Need a little writerly inspiration on this fine Tuesday morning?

I was on AW today and read a quote of an interview with Ira Glass that was truly inspiring.  Every once in a while, us writers in the trenches need to read something heartening, to be reminded of why we write in the first place, to be told to “hang in there.” 

Glass’s comment does just that.  It’s one of the smartest things I’ve heard said in a while.  Whether you’re a seasoned vet who needs reminding, or someone slogging through the first draft of your first novel, I hope you find it useful:

What nobody tells people who are beginners –and I really wish someone had told this to me. . . is that all of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste.  But there is this gap.  For the first couple of years you make stuff, and it’s just not that good.  It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not .

But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer.  And your taste is why your work disappoints you.  A lot of people never get past this phase.  They quit.  Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this.

I hope those of you in the trenches with me found it as inspiring as I did.  Keep on Writing!

Original link here: http://www.openculture.com/2009/10/ira_glass_on_the_art_of_story_telling.html