Well, there's this man who's pretty darn brilliant, and he had something to say about those kinds of scenes. (Or possibly he was saying it about something different... but I'll only believe that if he tells me so himself.) Anyway, so this guy says that all of that work-- all of those times that the scene came out wrong-- weren't wasted. All those times existed so that you could find out how to do it just right. So you should quit thinking that you stink, and quit getting down in the dumps, because if you have a more hopeful attitude about it, you'll get it right. Except he said it in a lot fewer words, because he's cool like that. Check it out:
"I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work."~Thomas Edison
Grab a cookie and let's raise it in a posthumous salute. Thanks, Edison! *sniff* We love you, man!
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| By Tamara Manning (orig. posted to Flickr as Shortbread Cookies) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons |
23 comments:
he's one smart cookie :)
have an awesome weekend Peggy
I love this quote. Another of his is "you only fail when you quit trying".
Love that quote! It's so true. There are no failures, only minor setbacks that help us learn something on our way to success. Without those setbacks, we might not get where it is we want to go. It's difficult to remember that in the moment, though! It's much easier to understand it in hindsight after you've already accomplished your goal.
Mmm, cookies!!
I have left so much writing 'on the cutting room floor' it's not funny. But it isn't wasted, not at all. A friend of mine used to say, "Every 'no' gets you one step closer to a 'yes.'" Like Edison, he wasn't talking about writing either, but it also applies. Each sentence, each deleted scene, each cut chapter, makes us better. I believe this, anyway. It's part of what keeps me going!
I needed that today :) And I've been so busy I didn't get to comment on your teachable post (which I 100% agree with :) Thanks for the virtual cookie. It goes right to my virtual hips.
A wonderful quote. I'll have to keep that in mind when I'm sighing and throwing out a lot of GRRRRs because I can't seem to get it right.
So all those times I've rewritten the beginning were useful? Sigh, I need a cookie, but I think this calls for a chocolate one.
That Edison, he was a smart cookie.
Here, here! I toast an English Shortbread salute :)
That is a PERFECT quote to apply to writing! One could also apply the sense of it to multiple revisions of a manuscript...though I'll be long dead before I get to 10,000. :)
I could really use cookies right now.
Perfect timing on this post, as I'm currently trying AGAIN to rewrite a scene I just can't seem to get right. Thanks for the inspiration. :)
I'm going to dismiss that Thomas Edison was talking about inventions. After all, an invention is simply a physical manifestation of an idea...just like writing a novel is a manifestation of stretching an idea beyond its furthest boundaries, and beyond :-)
A classic quote for sure!
How many ways did you find not to write this post?
Do you dish out pearls of wisdom like these outside of your blog too?
Cheers (with cookie in hand held high) to that.
Love Edison's quote. And your advice, inspiring!
Happy Thanksgiving
Edison is a smart cookie, alright! And yes, I love everything "just right" otherwise I'll keep going back to it and think "I should've done this and this..." It's so true..we don't fail and it does take a million times to make it perfect! Great post, Peggy!
Thanks for commenting and following my blog! Nice to meet you! *shake hands* :)
Keep at it, Peggy - you'll get it! :) I know you will :)
Love that guy, Mr. Edison! And Peggy, when will you invent a scratch 'n sniff laptop??!! We need 'em for those cookies you keep showing us!
This is so true! I just finished a WIP and I've lost track of how many times I've rewritten the beginning.
Oh yes, I've felt like that before. It's a great quote isn't it?
This is the second quote by Edison I've seen on a blog today. Both were quite good! :)
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