Friday, September 23, 2011

Quotes and Cookies: Writing is Your Choice

First off, I need to tell you guys how much I LOVED reading all of your How Old Were You stories on Wednesday. They're all downright inspiring! It made me all kinds of giddy to read them. One commenter, Iain from Iainspiration did a post to tell his whole story. Check it out!

And holy canoli was this a busy week! Anyone else SO GRATEFUL that Friday is here? Got a craving for some cookies or a fabulous quote? Me, too. Let's get to it!

"No one is asking, let alone demanding, that you write. The world is not waiting with bated breath for your article or book. Whether or not you get a single word on paper, the sun will rise, the earth will spin, the universe will expand. Writing is forever and always a choice - your choice."

~Beth Mende Conny

Kinda puts it into perspective, doesn't it? The world won't end if we don't write. We will survive if we don't write (even if it really doesn't feel like we would). We create those stories the world needs because we CHOOSE to. It's our choice, and if we're going to make such an all-consuming choice, then you can bet we are going to do THE BEST WE CAN.

Because that's what writers do.

(Oh, and we also eat cookies.)

http://www.itsfordinner.com/recipe/hershey-kiss-cookies

Have a wonderful Friday and a great weekend!

23 comments:

Jessie Humphries said...

You mean you wont shrivel up and die Peggy if I stop writing? I am so offended. And starving. Those cookies need to go in my mouth right NOW!

BECKY said...

What a wonderful post, a poweful quote, and a fabulous photo of some of my favorite cookies!!!!!

Abby Fowers said...

Happy Friday Peggy. Yes this week is insane. I don't think I will get a chance to relax until Sunday afternoon. I look forward to that. Thanks for the cookies!

Millie said...

Oh my gosh, yum!
Those cookies look delicious.
I must have one today!
Thanks for the unwanted cookie craving, Peggy lol

Jennie Bennett said...

I went to class at the writers conference I attended that was about putting the joy back in your writing. She basically told us the same thing and then said "You will not die if no one like your writing." So no point in writing ONLY to become a bestseller, it's not worth it :)

Tara Tyler said...

*chomp chomp* so the world will *chew, chew* go on if i dont write *gulp*
but then what will i do? and wont everyone miss me? *slurp, smack, ahhhh*
ha ha ha!
have a nice weekend!
and thanks for the yummy cookies!

Chantele Sedgwick said...

Mmm... cookies. I am also SO grateful Friday is here. It's been a crazy week around the Sedgwick house. I'm glad things are going to settle down for a few days.
Have a wonderful weekend!:)

Bkloss said...

LOVE that quote (and love that it's Friday)

We do put so much pressure on ourselves, and that's also why we get things done. Greatest strength is our greatest weakness, eh?

Now, off to bake some cookies (thanks a LOT!..not like I need 'em)

Carrie Butler said...

Those cookies have been at every bake sale I've ever seen in my life. I do not know why. In fact, if I ever spot a sale without those cookies, I'm going to assume it's a front for some kind of drug deal.

...*Blink* What were we talking about? Oh, right. Writing. Got it. :) Have a great weekend!

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

It's a sign of wisdom, I think, when you realize no cares what you do, that only you care. If you quit today and never wrote another word, no one would care. Only you would care. I guess that's what keeps us going.

Iain said...

Thanks for the link/mention. I'm glad you liked it :o)
I did stop writing once, and I died. Luckily I got better. ;o)

Joanne said...

Love this. And when we make that choice, in a way we're "owning" it and it has a way of becoming who we are. Happy Fall to you :)

andrea franco cook said...

Great post. I noted that poem. Words to live by.

Liz Reinhardt said...

Love it! It makes me even more eager to write, because there's no pressure to do it except for my own happiness! (And I will always and forever love cookies!)

Talei said...

Way to remind us, Peggy! Whoop! I SO agree. And I may have had a couple martinis tonight so I'm extra LOUD. ;-D

Have a wonderful weekend and um, excuse me if I take some of those cookies back with me - they look delicious!

Peggy Eddleman said...

Jessie-- Well, I might, but you won't. ;)

Becky-- Thanks! Mine, too.

Abby-- Yay for Sunday afternoons! Good luck making it until then. :)

Millie-- You're welcome. I'll give you a cookie craving anytime! :)

J.A.-- I think it helps to put the joy back in your writing, too. It helps to remember who you are doing it for- you!

Tara-- Hahahaha! That. Was. Awesome.

Chantele-- It sounds like your week has been like mine! Happy weekend to us!

Barbara-- Very good point- all the pressure we put on ourselves is also a very good thing!

Carrie-- That's the exact reason I put them on my blog- to show that I'm NOT a front for some kind of drug deal. :)

Richard-- I think it's totally what keeps us going. If we didn't care ourselves, we couldn't stay doing this. It's BECAUSE we know that it matters most to us that keeps us motivated!

Iain-- You're welcome! I was so excited you did a whole post on it!
And when you died, did they bury you six feet under the ground where the grass grew and grew until it tickled your toes? ;) Gosh. That never gets old when you're the one saying it. (See my "I Died Once" post if you have no idea what I'm talking about.)

Joann-- Very well said. Happy fall to you, too!

Andrea-- Thanks!

Elizabeth-- I completely agree. On BOTH counts. :)

Talei-- Have fun tonight! And go right ahead- take all you want. They probably go great with martinis. :)

Precy Larkins said...

Isn't that the truth! :)

Cookies! Nom nom nom. Have a great weekend, Peggy!

Julie said...

LOVE this quote. I might blog about it. Just sayin'...

Also, you should know, I want to eat my screen. Cookies, please!

Talli Roland said...

LOVE LOVE it! Exactly the kind of balance I need right now. Thank you, Peggy.

Hope you're having a fantastic weekend!

Donna K. Weaver said...

That's a great quote, Peggy. And the cookies ... yum!

Bethany Crandell said...

YUM!! I love everything (including the tasty pic at the bottom) about this post!

Lynn(e) Schmidt said...

Awesome post...and those are my favorite cookies :)

Also--You just got a blog award from me :)

Peggy Eddleman said...

Cherie-- You, too!

Julie-- If you do blog about it, let me know! I'd love to read it. Also, I wouldn't recommend eating you screen. It is okay, on occasion to lick it, though. :)

Talli-- Awww. That's awesome! I hope you had a great weekend, too!

Donna-- I love the quote, too. It makes me want to go write just because I LOVE IT. For no other reason.

Bethany-- Dang. You're as sweet as these cookies! Thank you!

Lynn(e)-- I love when I post people's favorites! And thank you SO MUCH for the blog award! That's so sweet! I love it!