Friday, March 30, 2012

Quotes and Cookies: Slow Walker

(Anyone watch The Walking Dead? I totally thought of them when I typed in that title. (And then I thought about how on TWD, they aren't really slow walkers at all. Sometimes they have a little too much get-up-and-go if you ask me. And what's with them being able to climb stairs, anyway? I was totally counting on that being my way to safety if a zombie apocalypse ever happened.) And this has NOTHING at all to do with the quote.Which I should probably stop tangenting about and just get to.)


"I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards."

~ Abraham Lincoln


Why do I love this so? It's not just because I love Abe. And it's not because of zombies. It's because of turtles. I am a slow writer. Some might even call it turtle-like slow. It's okay. I've come to terms with the fact that I won't be pumping out a manuscript in two weeks.

I think the important thing is the NEVER WALKING BACKWARDS part. These dreams we dream? They're BIG. There are going to be setbacks. Disappointments. Things that knock us back. As long as we keep moving forward, even if we're just inching toward our goals, we'll get there.

And while we're getting there, we might as well eat cookies along the way, right?

Photo Credit and Recipe link for Red Couch Recipes

I hope you have an incredible weekend!


33 comments:

Tonja said...

I love zombie movies because it's so funny that they move so slow and still manage to catch people. Not so funny if they move fast.

Having problems with comments - apparently they don't work if I go thru the blogroll. Very annoying.

Denise Baer said...

My friend, Barb is a big fan of Abe.

Keep on going.

Have a great weekend.

BECKY said...

Okay, Blogger! So, NOW you decide to allow comments! Arrrgg!! Anyway...Peggy, loved this post. I am a SLOW writer, too!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE The Walking Dead. Okay, did I say I LOVE The Walking Dead? I meant, I ADORINGLY LOVE The Walking Dead!!! I think it's the most creative show on TV now (well, that and Breaking Bad <-- my most fav show on TV)!

Yes, never, ever walk backwards! Awesome advice! :)

Oh, BTW, I gave you an honorable mention on my blog today ;)

Iain said...

One of the London Councils has a policy for what to do in the case of a Zombie invasion. I was tempted to move there.
You're living poof that speed isn't the issue, it's the quality :o)

Valerie Hartman said...

Picture me raising my hand.

Um, do you write slow or do you have thirty roles to fill on any given day and the time allowed for writing has to compete? Slow as in sitting down at the keyboard, but checking the internet for some little detail that will make one adjective in a sentence stronger so it takes 5 minutes to finish the thought? (Not that I know anyone who does THAT, ahem.)

Or slow like in two weeks you might add 500 words to a manuscript but gosh darn they are phenomenal words? Cause I thought you had a book written and scheduled to be printed and you look pretty young to me.

Inquiring minds want to know...

Rebecca Belliston said...

Needed this quote today. Keep walking--just move forward. I can finish these edits. I can finish these edits. :) Thanks for the post.

S. L. Hennessy said...

I don't know what's cooler about this post. That it's inspirational, that it's zombie inspired, or that you talk about turtles. Love this post!

Angela Cothran said...

I guess if you always go forward you will get there eventually. And the cookies are pretty, but I'm not sure I can get behind the green :)

Patti said...

I am definitely a slow writer and even slower revisor. At this rate I may have a book published when I'm 60.

i'm erin. said...

Is this post for me? Why didn't you just write, HEY Erin, get moving! Ugh. I know. I'll be writing today. Want to come over and play?

i'm erin. said...

Is this post for me? Why didn't you just write, HEY Erin, get moving! Ugh. I know. I'll be writing today. Want to come over and play?

prerna pickett said...

I love The Walking Dead, such an addicting show. Funny seeing as how zombies are one of my biggest fears. ANd yeah, how do they get up those stairs? I'm also a slow writer, but I figure it's better to take my time getting into my character's heads than rushing right through it, not taking the time to get to know them.

Writer Pat Newcombe said...

Like time - always move forward constantly. No matter how slow. Cookies look great, by the way...

Delia said...

Zombie cookies! Nom. I'm with you and Abe.

Jessie Humphries said...

Okay, I thought walking backward might burn more calories! I love that you are a "slow walker"...you slow my eager beaver butt down! And talk me off ledges and stuff. :)

Angela Brown said...

Ya know, sometimes slow walking is best. You get to pay attention more, smell the roses and baking cookies a whole lot more, and view certain things that get missed if the forward motion is too fast.

But no backstepping. No half-stepping if you can help it. Steady motion, steady forward at your own speed.

Paul Tobin said...

Inspiring quote, I have to agree with you and Abe, it's always forward.

Emily R. King said...

Another inspiring post!
I'm dreaming big and moving forward, one wobbly step at a time. :)

Carrie Butler said...

...Why do I have Thriller in my head now?

Oh well. Great quote! :) Onward!

Libby said...

I'm a slow writer too. But I am A Okay with it. And I love cookies!

Kelley Lynn said...

Another great quote :)

Keep moving forward :)

Unknown said...

Love your post. Oh, yes, never walking backwards is important, but so is never standing still.... just keep creeping fwd, ever so slightly..even just a thought of forward. If those cookies taste 1/2 as good as they look they must be scrumptious!!!

Stacy S. Jensen said...

True. A few words a day will add up. I may be a slow walker this morning during a neighborhood walk. I won't try to walk backwards.

Gia said...

Ha, I like that quote! And I don't watch the walking dead, but Boyfriend does. Pass.

Kitty said...

I guess I'll have to check out The Walking Dead b/c every time I turn around, someone is talking about how awesome it is! Love the quote - love the post. And, as always... love your blog, Peggy. I hope you are having a fantastic weekend!

Anonymous said...

The Walking Dead is a favorite show in our house. Can't wait for the next season to start! Guess I'll have to be happy with re-runs for the summer. : )

Susanne
PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER

Unknown said...

I do like the Walking Dead, Peggy. Nice to meet you, I am stopping by from the A-Z Challenge.

CarolynBrown-Books

Sarah Tokeley said...

I'll settle for that slow walk if it's in the right direction. Love that quote :-)

Nikki said...

Hey, I'm visiting you from the A - Z challenge. This was a really inspiring post. I love that your blog is filled with cookies!

It's nice to meet you :)

Nikki – inspire nordic

Peggy Eddleman said...

Tonja-- I know! That's been the staple of zombie movies- they are slow moving, and the people are not the most capable of the lot. It's kind of comforting, actually, to know that if you were in the movie, YOU'D TOTALLY SURVIVE. It's less comforting to know that you might not...

Bea-- I'm a big fan of Abe, too. :) I hope your weekend has been fabulous!!

Becky-- Slow writers unite!! (And thanks for showing Blogger who is more persistent!)

Jack-- Haha! When you said "adoringly love," it immediately brought to mind the commercials on TWD around Valentine's Day- did you see them? They were zombie valentines to give to your loved ones. And they pretty much rocked. Thanks for the shout-out on your blog! I really appreciate it.

Iain-- That's hilarious! Is it wrong that I find so much mirth in people taking zombies seriously? And re: speed- Thank you! You just made me feel better about being a turtle.

Valerie-- Picture me calling on you. ;) Um... Can I just say yes? Thirty roles. Check. Look up details. Check. Phenomenal words. NOT check. That quote "I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter" is totally me. I think what takes me so long is that I like plot-heavy books. Characters with strong arcs. Rich settings. So I think A LOT before I write anything. I plot tons before I write the first chapter. I work through every scene in my head in detail before I write it. So maybe I'm a normal-paced writer, but a slow thinker. ;)

Rebecca-- Ha! I've been saying the exact same thing to myself! I can finish these edits. I can finish these edits. I'm gonna say yes! We can totally do it.

S.L.-- Yes. I was totally going for the trio of awesomeness. ;) Thanks!

Angela-- Oh, come on! Would you like them in a house? Would you like them with a mouse? Would you eat them in a box? Would you eat them with a fox?

Patti-- Haha! I know exactly how you feel.

Erin-- Yes, totally for you. Get writing already! ;) And of course I want to come play! It's been much too long. Library Monday?

Prerna-- Funny that it's so addicting, isn't it? I keep wondering why that is. And as far as the slow writing- I think it's what works best for me, too. Fast writing just means TONS more rewriting!

Pat-- Yes! I guess if we write as fast as time flies, we've got it made. :)

Delia-- Your comment made me laugh out loud! I guess I hadn't thought of them as zombie cookies. :D

Jessie-- I just hope I can talk ONTO the ledge before long. ;)

Angela-- You just made me happy to be slow! Anytime I'm feeling like a turtle, I'm just going to think of the roses and cookies!

Peggy Eddleman said...

Paul-- Yes! At least that's the goal. :)

Emily-- Aww, thanks! And I LOVE the visual image of wobbly steps toward the goal. :)

Carrie-- Haha! Thriller! I saw that dance on a movie a week ago, and my daughter just put in my son's grade dancing to it at their school dance festival today. Guess I have zombies on the brain. :)

Libby-- I think I'm more B okay with it. ;) I'm MOSTLY okay with it, but I still wish I could write fast.

Kelley-- That's all it really takes, right?

Patricia-- True! It's just as important not to stand still! Very good point.

Stacy-- So cool you do neighborhood walks! And slow walking is better than no walking at all, right? :)

Gia-- I totally understand why you passed. My hubby was watching an episode during the first season. I walked in, and instantly passed, too. :) It wasn't until sometime during the second season that I was craving a post-apocalyptic show something fierce, and it was the only thing Netflix had. There's enough gore on the show, it surprises me that I'm hooked as much as I am!

Kitty-- Awww! You're a million kinds of sweet! I hope you have a fabulous weekend, too!

Susanne-- I don't think the new season is starting for like six months! I think you might have to hunker down for the long haul.

C.M.-- Nice to meet you, too! Welcome!

Sarah-- Oh my gosh- good point! It definitely helps if that walking is in the RIGHT DIRECTION.

Nikki-- Hi! Welcome! And what could be better than cookies? ;)

TerryLynnJohnson said...

huge huge fan of the Walking Dead!