Kafka Quote

“I need solitude for my writing; not ‘like a hermit’ – that wouldn’t be enough – but like a dead man.” – Franz Kafka

This quote made me laugh! I have been so deep in my writing projects that I no longer feel like I’m thriving in life. But once I start feeling that way, I take myself out. I want to thrive! Sometimes I take a random trip to the beach or a bookstore. Sometimes it’s just what is most convenient.

The quote has its place. Getting into the creative flow takes intentional work. Limited conversations, plenty of rest, and the freedom to go write at any moment all keep you from committing to things that make people feel alive.

It is eerie to be compared to a dead man, though. I don’t really like that.

Bigger Than Me

“And then, sometimes, when I least expect it, there are the rare, exquisite, ecstatic experiences of writing, when the story bursts out, and I struggle to type as fast as I need to, afraid the sentences are going to fly out of my grasp.” – Nina LaCour

Imagine writing every day for years to experience this (the moment mentioned in the quote above) only once or twice a year. Ok, ok, maybe that’s a little dramatic, but that’s really how it feels sometimes. Writing adds to my life, yes, but that doesn’t take away from the hard work it takes to be a writer. But that quote, that description of the feverish, inspired sessions feels good. They really do. But there’s more to writing than that. It’s bigger than feverish productivity. And most days it feels bigger than me.

We Need Your Story

“After nourishment, shelter, and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” – Philip Pullman

We need your story. Do not give up. Do not let those greedy little pigs blow your dreams out of sight. We can do things that are out of reach. We can write stories that outlast generations. These words may keep an entire generation alive someday. They also could be forgotten and never read again, but what if? What if there’s a chance that someone like you will save someone like me? Better yet, maybe your words will be exactly the words you need to save yourself. To see you safe in the palms of your own hardworking hands would truly light my fire.

Stay alive.

Enjoy

“Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way.” —Ray Bradbury

Let go and let loose! The words will come when you open the floodgates. One of my closest writing friends used to say, “if you have to push, it’s probably sh*t.” It will come; just try and enjoy the process in between. I can say that easily here in the blog post, but let me tell you, writing this novel hasn’t been a walk in the park. I have days and days when I feel like I’m waiting for the floodgates to open. They always do. That’s why I keep coming back.

Affirmation Check in

Affirmations are positive statements that help you work through negative feelings, thoughts, and situations. Yes, this sounds too simple; repeating the same sentences won’t change anything around you. The thing is, research shows that positive thinking can rewire your brain, changing the way you feel about things. The brain’s ability to adapt to new situations, or neuroplasticity, is why affirmations work.

Have you checked your thoughts lately?

https://www.odu.edu/equity/civility-month/affirmations

For the Writer

“Never write anything that does not give you great pleasure. Emotion is easily transferred from the writer to the reader.” –Joseph Joubert

I think this is completely accurate, so accurate that I had to google Joseph Joubert. He was an interesting essayist who wrote Pensées (Thoughts). It’s worth looking up if you haven’t heard of him. I didn’t dig too deep, just a quick skim.

Is what you’re writing bringing you joy?

Robert Frost Inspo

 “I have never started a poem yet whose end I knew. Writing a poem is discovering.”  Robert Frost

I haven’t enjoyed writing a poem in a while. Frost has always been a great inspiration when it comes to poetry for me. This quote is just the tippity tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many ways that Frost inspired future poets.

I’m grateful for the poets before us, the poets with us, and the poets to come.

Write to Thrive; Your Readers Will Thank You

“To survive, you must tell stories.” –Umberto Eco, The Island of the Day Before

And this doesn’t just go for writers. Let’s take it a step further and say, “Write to thrive!” We want our writing to add to our lives. We don’t want to be tossed all over the place by our writing. We want our writing to take us places that we never thought we’d go. We want it to bring us life and keep us going.

I always regret dragging myself to the computer to write. That never feels good. Even though someday, it has to be done. I like to show up excited to see what new element I can add to help me reconnect with the story.

Feature image created by AI

The Writing Process

“The writing process, it’s too mysterious to try and describe.” -Mick Jones

I used to romanticize the writing process, but I’ve been in the game long enough to admit that it’s just plain ole hard work. I can admit, there are times when making connections seems like magic. For me, that usually happens after days of thinking and twisting and turning from trying to figure it out. And then sometimes I’m gifted with a new connection. I’m open to it being divine, but I’m also open to the fact that I’m consistently putting in the work.

Feature photo generated by AI