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“Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say ‘infinitely’ when you mean ‘very’; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.” -C. S. Lewis

In honor of C. S. Lewis’ birthday, I wanted to share one of his quotes. This one made me laugh because I actually used the word ‘infinitely’ in one of my school papers where ‘very’ would probably work just as well. Interesting timing that this would show up and grab my attention.

Another interesting thing I read was his last book,  Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer. I listened to just the first chapter, and it’s interesting that we still bring up the same questions today. I wanted to look at his last work because I truly love to see the evolution of artists. I can’t tell from the first chapter whether he changed any of his views. He seems to be pretty consistent over time, but I’d like to see if his last book shows some shift in his views on religion, or even if it just opens the door to possibility. If you’ve read Narnia, you know doors to possibility are kind of his thing.

“The writing process for me is pretty much always the same – it’s a solitary experience.” -Sheryl Crow

It’s interesting because I speak often of the writing process being solitary. I speak often of taking intentional time for yourself. But I also must admit that when I sit down to write, I bring so many people with me. They may not be there in the physical sense, but each individual is a thread being woven into the story. It may not be an entire character that is them, but maybe I remember the unique way they hold a spoon, or the way they curled their lip at a strange smell, or even the way they bring that amazing energy that lights my fire. And so yes, writing is a solitary act in the physical sense, but at the same time, there’s a world of people that show up on that page.

How’s your writing going?

“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” — Anne Frank

There’s always a good reason to write. I think one of the greatest reasons to write is when I feel completely out of control. I don’t write to gain control; I write to find my calm in the chaos. It took some time for me to find my calm. I think—and I’m not committed to this—but I think that writing has become my anchor. When I need my little heart to be still, I write. And so that’s why I liked this quote for tonight. I like it because I can completely relate. I think how I feel in this world matters more than all the things I can’t control. When I say how I feel, I mean the way I allow myself to feel my way through things. Not placing blind faith in my feelings, but listening to what they are trying to tell me and going from there.

Can you relate to Anne Frank’s quote?