The first writing book I ever received was Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul when I was 14 (thanks Mom and Dad!). I’ve read it cover-to-cover numerous times, and I have my favorite stories (almost) memorized. The following is from my favorite story in the collection. I couldn’t find it online so I’m not typing the entire thing (it’s only two pages in the book, though). If you have not yet read Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul, I highly recommend you borrow it from the library.
“Counsel from a Veteran of the Writing Wars” by Irving Wallace
“I once overheard a professor say to a beginning writer: ‘Everything has been written about already, and written better than you can do it. If you intend to write about love, tragedy, adventure . . . forget it, because it has all been done by Shakespeare, Dickens, Tolstoy, Flaubert, and the rest. Unless you have something absolutely new to say, don’t try to be a writer. Take up accounting.’
“This was silly–really stupid. Everything has not been said, and will never be said. Human emotions may have always been the same, but there was never anyone on earth before you who was exactly like you and who saw love and hate exactly as you see them through your eyes.
“And you need not have lived something to see it, to write about it. You were provided with imagination. Use it. Da Vinci did not have to attend the Last Supper to paint it. . . .
“. . . Despite what that professor contended, there are things left to be said. The world around you is different from the world Shakespeare wrote about–your world today has trod on the moon, by God. For every new writer, every new year remains unexplored until he or she explores it.”
I love it! I always turn to it when I’m feeling blue about my writing. From what I’ve posted here, I’ve omitted four paragraphs between the Da Vinci part and the last paragraph. In those paragraphs, Wallace urges you to treat writing like a profession and write every day whether inspired or not. Something all newbie writers have heard before, but sometimes it’s much easier said than done!
It’s nearly the weekend, YAY! Happy writing!!!
6 comments:
Laura, I have had a pleasure reading your blog this week. Thank you, and enjoy your weekend.
CSFTS is a great book. Those guys are brilliant.
LOVE that pic. I wanna be on that dock RIGHT NOW. :)
I agree. There are things left to be said. And new people to hear them. And that's why books are forever changing and being published. Thanks for the pick-me-up!
This is so true. It can be SO difficult to treat writing like a profession and work at it every day. I read on this recently published author's blog that she tries to write something, even if it's a sentence every night. I'll have to check out Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul!
Theo- Thank you for stopping by! :)
Karen- So. Do. I!!!!! Thanks for the comment and for following!
Elana- You're welcome! Thanks for commenting and following!
Saumya- I've read that, too. It makes sense! Usually once you get started, even if you plan on writing just one sentence, more sentences always follow!
Yes, send me to that dock, pretty please. :o)
Happy Friday, Laura!
Love,
Lola
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