The writing life requires courage, patience, persistence, empathy, openness, and the ability to deal with rejection. It requires the willingness to be alone with oneself. To be gentle with oneself. To look at the world without blinders on. To observe and withstand what one sees. To be disciplined, and at the same time, take risks. To be willing to fail - not just once, but again and again, over the course of a lifetime.
Interpretation
Writing requires a blend of inner strength and resilience to navigate challenges and self-reflection.
This quote from Dani Shapiro encapsulates the multifaceted nature of the writing life, emphasizing that it goes beyond mere talent. It highlights the essential qualities such as courage and patience needed to confront one's inner thoughts, the reality of rejection, and the necessity of observing the world honestly, learning from failures over time, and maintaining a balance between discipline and creativity.
In practice
During a workshop on creative writing, this quote could inspire participants to embrace their challenges.
Writing well involves walking the path of most resistance. Sitting still, being patient, allowing the lunatic dream to take shape on the page, then the shaping, the pencil on the page, breathing, slowing down, being willing–no, more than willing, being wide open–to press the bruise until it blossoms.
Confidence is highly overrated when it comes to creating literature. A writer who is overly confident will not engage in the struggle to get it exactly right on the page - but rather, will assume that she's getting it right without the struggle.
When we reach reflexively for something to dull an ache inside of us, in that very moment of reaching, we are hiding from our pain. We're storing it away. Tamping it down.
I try to remember that the job - as well as the plight, and the unexpected joy - of the artist is to embrace uncertainty, to be sharpened and honed by it.
While writing, I tend to repeat the same song, endlessly, for thousands of times. This helps me ignore any lyrics, and helps create a consistent mood for each book.
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Many really good films allow us to empathize with other lives.
I realised I had spent the majority of my adult life doing two characters - Maude from 1972-'79 and Dorothy from 1985-'92 - and I really didn't know what I wanted to do after 'Golden Girls.' I knew what I didn't want to do - any more sitcoms, or wait for the next great role that might never come.
Conception, my boy, fundamental brain work, is what makes all the difference in art.
And ever against eating cares Lap me in soft Lydian airs, Married to immortal verse
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