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
What a fantastic quote. This is why the process is so long. You keep reading what you wrote and crave to make it better. You improve things and then reread it again a few weeks later and still think it needs changing. It’s so frustrating when you struggle to organize the words that convey the painting in your head.
This is going up on my inspiration board!
Thanks Lauren! I do the same thing. I get a section (sentence, paragraph, chapter) to where I’m satisfied with it, then come back later and decide it needs reworking all over. *bangs head on keyboard* *goes for Ben & Jerry’s pint*
Maybe it’s just our impeccable taste, LOL
Thanks for the quote. It definitely resonates with me, in terms of not being satisfied with my creative writing and yet needing to keep working at it to achieve my vision for it.
Ah, terrific words for today–thanks! I don’t know about you, but reading a book that just sings is the greatest source of inspiration. Maybe it’s just a terrific turn of phrase or an emotion that’s captured with such poignancy–doesn’t take much to keep us writers typing away, trying a little harder. Thanks for the reminder today!
Thankies Monica! By the way, do you not have a Gravatar attached to your email address? Or is it a WordPress problem? I’m always sad other readers can’t link immediately to your wonderful blog from your comments here.
Everybody, go read Monica’s blog at http://www.monicacomas@blogspot.com
Gah! Wrong link. Check out Monica’s blog HERE: http://monicacomas.blogspot.com
You’re so sweet–I have no idea what the problem is. Most likely user error (the user being me!).
I’m going to come back and read this every time I’m down in the dumps about my writing. Brilliant!
I’ve been an avid NPR and KQED listener for years. I like Ira Glass. He somehow makes the mundane or even plain, come to life in his show, This American Life. I can’t say I can identify with each one nor can I sometimes relate. Frankly, he has some episodes that dwell on minutiae of people’s inconsequential quirks. I’m just relieved I’m not sitting across from him and saving to feign interest. But maybe in another part of America, it’s compelling.
I find the insight about writing intriguing, almost giving me hope that I can write better one day. Like any craft or skill, practice makes perfect?
I’ve read that quote a couple times. It reads with the same enlightening vibrance every time. Reminds me that one day I’ll get there
Brilliant. I agree with Ira as writing is a process that can improve as we do more of it . Love the quote.