Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Thursday Thirteen 123: Quotes from WILD MIND


Thirteen quotes from Natalie Goldberg's WILD MIND: LIVING THE WRITER'S LIFE.


People come and go with writing. I understand. Writing is hard, but eventually if you are serious, you have to settle and be steady, even though your individual emotions change from day to day about it.

I own my own mind. I claim my thoughts. My mouth and the words I say with it are mine and no one can take that away. I can’t write like Dostoyevsky or Henry Miller. I write like myself.

It is good to feel connected and close to our characters, but it is also important to separate. It allows us to move on to the next chapter.

Sadness comes from the knowledge of impermanence. Everything will eventually pass away. Why be sad? Because we love and no matter how dispassionate we become we are not ice bricks. We are human beings with feelings.

There is no excuse. If you want to write, write. This is your life. You are responsible for it. You will not live forever. Don’t wait. Make the time now, even if it is ten minutes once a week.

We are not our writing. Our writing is a moment moving through us.

Writing is elemental. Once you have tasted its essential life, you cannot turn from it without some deep denial and depression. It would be like turning down water. Water is in your blood. You can’t go without it.

We have to accept ourselves in order to write. Now none of us does that fully; few of us do it even halfway. Don’t wait for one hundred percent acceptance of yourself before you write, or even eight percent acceptance. Just write. The process of writing is an activity that teaches us about acceptance.

The initial subject matter might not have anything finally to do with what we really need to say. Just keep your hand moving and let whatever is about to happen unfold. Let writing do writing. Don’t manipulate it with your ideas about what you think should happen.

I am not waiting around for anyone from above to give me the signal. We just have to step forward with our hearts and act. That’s also the best place to come from as a writer.

To learn the act of writing is to obtain magical powers. They are a secret. No one can give them to you. You must work at them yourself.

Look around you. There’s no one there. No one cares that much whether you write or not. You just have to do it.

I often say to myself now when writing is hard, “There is no such thing as failure.” The only failure in writing is when you stop doing it. Then you fail yourself. You affirm your resistance. Don’t do that. Let the outside world scream at you. Create an inner world of determination.



LINKS TO OTHER THURSDAY THIRTEENS:
(Please leave your link if this is your first visit!)

Stephanie Adkins * Adelle Laudan * Alexia Reed
Lucy Woodhull * Emily Ryan-Davis * Mary Quast * Yvette Davis
Alice Audrey * Rosetta Stone * Flicka Holt * Hazel
Janice Seagraves * Ella Drake * David Bridger * Unplugged
Hootin' Anni * Desi * Inez Kelley * Angeleque Ford
Sophia Parkwood * Chrissea * Paige Tyler * Jennifer McKenzie
Susan Helene Gottfried


You can find more Thursday Thirteen participants HERE




30 comments:

Alexia Reed said...

I especially like the last one. Completely true. great quotes!

Heather said...

Thanks, Alexia! I like that one too, and there were many more I could have easily included as well.

Ella Drake said...

These are great. I really like "To learn the act of writing is to obtain magical powers. They are a secret. No one can give them to you. You must work at them yourself."

Happy Thursday!

Alice Audrey said...

From your lips to my editor's ear.

Heather said...

Ella - Writing is empowering, isn't it? *grin*

Alice - To every editor's ear! *VBG*

David Bridger said...

Great quotes, Alexia! I love the 'magical powers' one.

Unplugged said...

I love quote number 5. I need to make time now. So right!

Happy T-13!

Hootin Anni said...

I like the reference of writing...a moment moving through us.

My 13 this week is all about Labor in a funny way. Hope you can stop by to visit with me. Happy Thursday. [PS...you'll need to scroll down below my Thursday Thunks to find my list of 13]

Hazel said...

The third to the last wowed me. That's why I marvel at JK Rowling's imagination endlessly.

Stephanie Adkins said...

These are great and SO true! I love that last one. Happy Thursday! *Hugs*

Americanising Desi said...

my inner world has set ablaze :) thank you

13 Walt Disney

Inez Kelley said...

I love this one:

Look around you. There’s no one there. No one cares that much whether you write or not. You just have to do it.


and my word is slowsx... uhm, dirty thoughts

Heather said...

David - Thanks! And i won't even be mad that you called me Alexia. ;)

Unplugged - You should always make time for the things that matter most to you, whether it be writing or something else altogether.

Anni - I liked that, too. Will be sure to stop by your place later!

Hazel - Don't you sometimes wish you had even a third her wondrous imagination??

Angeleque Ford said...

Great quotes. Great Thurs 13. I posted mine on my upcoming release.

Heather said...

Stephanie - Thank you, I certainly thought them worth noting!

Desi - Happy to inspire! ;)

Inez - *Nodding* Definitely something to think about, huh? And I'm not saying a word about your...word. LOL

Anonymous said...

I love the one about magical powers~ too true! Have a great Thursday!

Heather said...

Angeleque - Thank you. Can't wait to read about your new release!

Chrissea - Thanks, I really liked that one, too!

Anonymous said...

Great quotes! They are all so true! Happy Thursday.

colleen said...

As a writer and reader of all Natalie Goldberg's book, these were great!

Heather said...

Sophia - Thanks, glad you liked!

Collen - I'm only just now making my way through NG's books. No idea why I waited so long - there's so much wisdom inside!

Americanising Desi said...

we are not our writing, our writing is a moment moving thru us!

bravo!

Click here for my Thursday Thirteen

Americanising Desi said...

and sorry for the double comment I just came back to ur post :D

Jennifer McKenzie said...

Oh very nice, Heather! I love these.

Felicia Holt said...

Great quotes. Will remember #2 and #12 especially!

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Good stuff.

Heather said...

Paige - Thank you!

Desi - No problem, LOL.

Jennifer - Thanks you, and happy, happy birthday!

Flicka - Glad those two quotes made an impression on you!

Susan - Thanks! :)

Janice Seagraves said...

Very good thirteen truths about writing.

Happy TT.
Janice~

The Bumbles said...

Oh God those are all great! Write every day. And I would add that I am always writing in my mind - so that stream of consciousness advice to just write without worrying where the path leads is great. Stories do reveal themselves - even if our minds control the thoughts.

Anonymous said...

Inspiration for the masses. I like!

Traveling Mama said...

This is really great! Some really good encouragement that we all need to hear!