Sand in your bathing suit is good for your writing.
Words of encouragement can help writers stick with penning words to the page. Here are some that have helped me.
“The most difficult and complicated part of the writing process is the beginning.” ~ A.B. Yehoshua
Starting a project is like shifting into first gear on manual transmission. A writer often hesitates, stalls, and jackrabbits before gaining momentum. It’s all about starting over – and over and over, until you’re at highway speed.
“It is in our idleness, in our dreams, that the submerged truth sometimes makes its way to the surface.” ~ Virginia Woolf
Call it dreaming, calling it procrastination, call it an excuse to complete a crossword puzzle: there is something to be said for allowing the brain to freewheel for a bit – without engaging the gears.
So today, I encourage all writers to forgive themselves the time they are not writing, and soak up the irritations of living, whether it be sand in your bathing suit while you’re on vacation, or sawdust in your nose from working on an overdue home repair; or garden soil in your eye. These things will pass from immediate discomfort. You will return to your desk or your cafe or the refuge of your car – wherever it is you spin words into stories. You will get past the starting line, and you will be thick in media res once again.
“Beware of advice—even this.” ~ Carl Sandburg
Deborah Lee Luskin is an award-winning novelist, commentator and educator. Learn about joining her Private Tutorials, Writing Circles and Editorial Services, and read an essay every Wednesday on her blog.
Thank you for this! especially for making me forgive me for the time that i am not writing! i find that my breaks in writing help me live some life to write about… it also makes me NOT repeat myself! Great read!!!
Thank you for this comment and for your post-surgical photo of your beautiful self.
You are SO welcome! I started this journey of writing about my life after cancer, accepting my scars and dealing with some old ones… Blogging has saved my life…
So true — “the breaks in writing help me live some life to write about…” Thank you for that! 🙂
You’re welcome. So glad you found it helpful!
So true Deborah. Well said!
Thank you for letting us know it’s ok to do the household chores that are part of our lives. After all, Agatha Christie said, “The best time for planning a book is while you’re doing the dishes. ”
thank you for these inspiring quotes and words of encouragement. i’ve been feeling the need to write but lack discipline and motivation. i’m hoping to get past that starting line soon!
I’ve replaced “discipline” with “practice.” Physicians practice. Buddhists practice. I practice yoga. And now I practice writing. And I don’t beat myself up if I “get out of line.” I simply return to my practice as soon as I’m ready. I hope this helps.
Thanks for reading and commenting on the post.
“I forgive myself for the time that I’m not writing.” Thank you so much for this!!! 😀
Forgiveness – yes.
It’s exactly what I need for the novel. I am getting too protective with my characters and emotionally attached…I am distancing myself before heading back in a day or two to make them wild, happy, naughty and evil. Thank you for this post.
You’re most welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful and that you’ve given yourself permission to step away for a bit.
Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out these words of encouragement for writers from the Live to Write – Write to Live blog
Thanks as always for the reblog!
My pleasure.
I think I shall take this advice today! 🙂
Hope you have a great day!
Reblogged this on KEMMA experience and commented:
This is sensational. i have been beating myself for the habit of starting and not ending. sometimes i thought i lost the inspiration and other times i just thought it was just some sort of laziness or procrastination. i really love this.
i will beware of advice… even this one. (wink)
Thanks for your kind words and reblog. I’m so glad you found the post helpful – and that you took the time to let me know.
thnks for this!
You’re welcome!
Thanks for the encouraging words
You are most welcome!
I definitely needed this. I’m trying to back into blogging and moreso that my SO is co-blogging with me. Thank you for the inspiration and the dose of reality, it balances me out.
Reblogged this on Mister Journalism: "Reading, Sharing, Discussing, Learning".
Thank you so much for your advice/ideas. Very useful as almost all writers go through what you have written. It is and will be very useful to me in the future too. Thank you again 🙂
You’re welcome. Thank YOU for letting me know this was helpful!