"It's easy, after all, not to be a writer. Most people aren't writers and very little harm comes to them."
~Julian Barnes, Flaubert's Parrot
This quote always makes me chuckle! Plus: so true. I mean, isn't it so much easier not to write? Easier to find time to get to that housework, easier to convince yourself that the fridge has been empty long enough that you should probably go grocery shopping, easier to stay on top of everything else in your life. There's more time for family, friends, movies, books, sleep. Plus, then you don't have to cry because of something that happened to one of your characters.
But.
But, but, but. But then there wouldn't be the joy that comes from writing. That high you get when you nail a scene. That crazy humming powerful feeling your heart when you bring a character to life. When you bring a world to life. When you create something out of nothing that feels so very real and tangible that you're constantly surprised that it isn't a real place. That they aren't real people. That the things that happened to them didn't make the news. That you can't go there or talk to them outside of your head.
And that makes it worth giving up the things in life that don't really matter. It makes it worth being more efficient and organized to not give up the things in life that really do matter.
Because who needs easy when we've got something as powerful as writing?
 |
| Recipe and Photo Credit for Secret Life of a Chef's Wife |
Have a fabulous writing weekend, everyone!
35 comments:
This is the perfect post for me to read today. It is easier not to write. so much easier!
I love the "... and very little harm comes to them." that makes me laugh.
Have an awesome weekend :)
Yes, it's easy NOT to write... except when you keep getting ideas for novels, and you start subconsciously developing plots, and news stories strike you as great story ideas... then it gets very hard!
I'm a perfectionist, an absolute perfectionist when it comes to my work. And many times it feels thankless (sigh).
Joy in writing, pain in editing!
What a great quote! I feel like it's up to me to give birth to these people in my head, because I'm the only on who can. I hate the thought of them not living on paper somewhere.
Easy is over rated and boring. Such a great quote.
Good quote Peggy and soooo true! I find it hard to stop writing sometimes... Once I am immersed that's it!
Loved "who needs easy when we've got something as powerful as writing".
That is an awesome quote! Made me laugh. Great post!
Thanks for this. :D
"That high you get when you nail a scene. That crazy humming powerful feeling your heart when you bring a character to life. When you bring a world to life. When you create something out of nothing that feels so very real and tangible that you're constantly surprised that it isn't a real place."
Amen to that. Beautifully stated, Peggy. Have a great weekend.
It might be easy for people that don't have voices talking to them all the time to not write. LOL. I could probably stop writing and after a while they would shut up, but I have so much fun writing that it makes the hard times not seem so bad.
Very easy. But I can't seem to quit. And it makes me happy (and at times frustrated).
Always true and honest posts from Peggy!
Writing is hard, but it's become part of my life. I want to write, I need to. IT's can be so rewarding, just like you said.
I don't like easy anyway! I'm a masachist like that:)
How true that is! It is SO easy not to write. But, it's easier than dealing with the empty, regretful void that NOT writing leaves behind :)
here, here!
excellent summation! why am i torturing myself, squeezing out word after word? because telling stories is AwESoMe!
i may have to compliment your cookie fridays with happy hour fridays, you inspire me! here's to peggy!
Amen, and love the quote!
Indeed, easy is boring! What would life be without challenges?
And where do you find all these great cookie photos and images??
Ah yea,it is so easy not to be a writer...but we do it anyway. Poor people who don't write. They might not have any harm come to them, but they're missing out on such a lot!
It is so easy not to write that it's scary sometimes. Case in point: I haven't written a single thing all week because there is always something more important. Time to kick that habit.
It's so true. It would be easier not to write but I'd be miserable. So then, what's the point? :)
There's a lot of writing that I can do with a bit of chaos around me, but I'm at a point in my WIP where I need quiet, and that's a really, really hard thing to find . . .
Been staying up late.
And you're SO right. If you don't make time, it could slip away from you.
Not me. ;)
Easy is overrated! ;) Have a great weekend!
I agree wholeheartedly with what you said about the joy that comes with writing. I wouldn't want to give that up.
Thanks Peggy for yet again another great reminder :D Writing is not easy but it´s rewarding in its own special little ways and then what would we do without writing? I sometimes wonder: would we indeed spend more quality time with people or become bitter frustrated writers because we really want to write but we don´t do it because it´s difficult, at times heart-wrenching :D?
Hmm too much deep thinking for my Saturday morning, can you pass me a cookie?
Great quote! - love the whole post - so true! Writing is never easy, but so worth it :)
Love the quote and post. Enjoy your weekend! I'll be digging myself out from the snow. :)
Loved this! So, so SO true! Happy writing!!
Loved the quote and your post. It's exactly how I feel. Sometimes I think it would be so easy to give up writing but then... well I don't think I could really give it up.
Great quote. Actually this is a great post. I agree about the joy of writing. I am always soooo hungry when I read your blog
lovely looking cookies and a great quote. Risk is often times more a worry about failure than physical. You are so true in your understanding of it. ;D
Groceries, dishes, and all that other stuff is so boring when you can be creating worlds and people you love. The only way to truly live life is to take risks, otherwise you are only going through the motions. Creativity is our greatest gift, and while it would be easier in a sense to ignore it, all of us creative types know that's like trying to ignore a really itchy mosquito bite or those cookies in the picture sitting right next to us.
Oh lady, I like you so much. I just want to say that. Yes, it's easy not to be a writer but the BUT is a very, very big one for those of us who are.
Cristina-- The "... and very little harm comes to them" part was my favorite, too!
Colin-- Hahahaha! Yeah, there's that.
Jay-- As a fellow perfectionist, I know your pain. And also the joy from getting it just right. :)
Angela-- Haha! I love how you put that- that it's up to us to give birth to these characters in our heads, because we're the only ones who can. :)
Patti-- That's right! Overrated and boring. And who wants that? ;)
Pat-- Hehe- yes. When everything else is screaming, "Spend time on me!" it can be hard to write, but when you're immersed, it can be so hard to stop!
S.P.-- Thank you!
Kristine-- Aww, thanks! I love the quote, too.
Laura-- You're welcome! :D
JeffO-- Thank you, Jeff. I hope you had a great weekend, too!
Jenny-- Yes, this: "I have so much fun writing that it makes the hard times not seem so bad." So much yes.
Prerna-- Exactly! Flip-flopping emotions and all. :)
Melanie-- Thank you! And I agree. It's so rewarding to bring things to life!
Jessie-- Hahaha! Yep. I think it could kill you to not be in the middle of trying to accomplish some goal that is extremely hard. Love you!
Amanda-- Well, um, yeah. There's definitely that. And who wants empty voids?
Tara-- Yes! Telling stories IS awesome! And thank you. *clinks cup with cookie*
Charlie-- Me, too. :D
E.D.-- It wouldn't be nearly as exciting, that's for sure! The cookies for the past several weeks have all been from a site a couple of my friends made. One of them makes the most incredible food, and they are both photographers, so the pictures are just as amazing! They've been a great source. Other than that, I google.
Imogen-- Ha! Yep, they are safe, but are missing out on SO MUCH. ;) Love it!
Lan-- I know what you mean! Sometimes EVERYTHING can feel like it's trying to stop you. I hate that!
Kelley-- Exactly. So I guess we write! Good thing it's so darn enjoyable, isn't it?
Jolene-- Ahh, yes. The quiet tends to come with a lack of sleep. Sigh. And amen to the having to make time or it gets away from you.
The Golden Eagle-- Not me, too. :D
Carrie-- Totally overrated! I hope your weekend was FABULOUS!
Alice-- It would be hard thing to give up, indeed.
Elodie-- Ahh! Interesting deep thinking! (Especially for a Saturday!) You definitely deserve a cookie for that! *Tosses one in the direction of Germany*
Susanna-- Amen to "Writing is never easy, but so worth it." I totally agree!
Bea-- I hope you enjoyed your weekend, too, and didn't get too buried! I spent it digging myself out of the complete lack of snow. Sigh.
Alexis-- Thanks! Happy writing to you, too!
Clarissa-- I am the same way. And thank you!
Melissa-- Thank you! And sorry about the hunger. ;)
WilyBCool-- Thank you! And agreed.
Shell-- WELL SAID! (I especially loved the part about the mosquito and cookie. ;))
Christa-- Love you! And yes, what we all want: a big BUT. ;)
Post a Comment