An Internet meme showed up in my Facebook feed today with a bunch of quotes about writing. Two of them really jumped out at me.
The first was from George Orwell.
“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”
I have felt that way more than once during the process of creating a book, particularly a few months in, when I’ve got hundreds of pages and I feel like I can’t use any of them.
But still I do it. Still, I’m being truthful when I say I love to do it. I think it’s because this quote is true for me too.
“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” ― Ray Bradbury
I would modify that thought to include reading too. The world of books and writing is a source of constant strength for me. I’m betting it is for you too. It’s just how readers are.
EDIT: Okay, re-reading the meme, I see there’s a quote from Neil Gaiman in there too that just reminds me why I love him so.
Start telling the stories that only you can tell, because there’ll always be better writers than you and there’ll always be smarter writers than you. There will always be people who are much better at doing this or doing that — but you are the only you.― Neil Gaiman
If you’re a Neil Gaiman fan like I am, watch this:
