WRITING REFLECTIONS. BEGINNING.
The golden rule of writing is to write what you care about. If you care about your topic you'll do your best writing. -Jerry Spinelli
If you're going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write. Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow. -Louis L'Amour
The beginning is the most important part of any work. -Plato
It is better to write a bad first draft than to write no first draft at all. -Will Shetterly
Work at your craft, write daily, and follow your dreams because dreams do come true. -Christopher Paul Curtis
Successful writers are not the ones who write the best sentences. They are the ones who keep writing. They are the ones who discover what is most important and strangest and most pleasurable in themselves, and keep believing in the value of their work, despite the difficulties. -Bonnie Friedman
A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit. -Richard Bach
I think writing is, by definition, an optimistic act. -Michael Cunningham
If you're going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write. Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow. -Louis L'Amour
The beginning is the most important part of any work. -Plato
It is better to write a bad first draft than to write no first draft at all. -Will Shetterly
Work at your craft, write daily, and follow your dreams because dreams do come true. -Christopher Paul Curtis
Successful writers are not the ones who write the best sentences. They are the ones who keep writing. They are the ones who discover what is most important and strangest and most pleasurable in themselves, and keep believing in the value of their work, despite the difficulties. -Bonnie Friedman
A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit. -Richard Bach
I think writing is, by definition, an optimistic act. -Michael Cunningham
On one of my visits home to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2001, I asked my seventy-year-old father to write a journal about his life and days in Viet Nam.
Father in his youth. Viet Nam.
I said to him in English and part Vietnamese:
"Write whatever comes to mind. Don't worry about time and having things in order. Write from the heart. Write in Vietnamese. Don't worry about the language, or the form. I will figure it out later."
My father did not ask questions or why. He simply nodded and said, "Okay."
Two years later my father gave me his seventy-five page, handwritten journal and said, "My memory is good ... sometimes too good that it can be bad. My writing is not so good. It can be better."
I thanked my father for giving me what will later become the voice and inspiration to MORNING SUN, a historical fiction set in Viet Nam.
No matter how dark the morning, the sun always rises.
Follow us on the journey of MORNING SUN.
"Write whatever comes to mind. Don't worry about time and having things in order. Write from the heart. Write in Vietnamese. Don't worry about the language, or the form. I will figure it out later."
My father did not ask questions or why. He simply nodded and said, "Okay."
Two years later my father gave me his seventy-five page, handwritten journal and said, "My memory is good ... sometimes too good that it can be bad. My writing is not so good. It can be better."
I thanked my father for giving me what will later become the voice and inspiration to MORNING SUN, a historical fiction set in Viet Nam.
No matter how dark the morning, the sun always rises.
Follow us on the journey of MORNING SUN.
WRITING. LEARNING. PERSEVERING.
This morning I took out a comma, and this afternoon I put it back again. -Oscar Wilde
The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense. -Tom Clancy
Fiction is a lie. Good fiction is the truth in the lie. -Stephen King
Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light. -Joseph Pulitzer
Nouns are the bones that give a sentence body. But verbs are the muscles that make it go. -Mervin Block
Don't say the old lady screamed—bring her on and let her scream. -Mark Twain
Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. -Anton Chekhov
You only learn to be a better writer by writing. -Doris Lessing
Good writing is bad writing that was rewritten. -Marc Raibert
Writing is rewriting. A writer must learn to deepen characters, trim writing, intensify scenes. To fall in love with the first draft to the point where one cannot change it is to greatly enhance the prospects of never publishing. -Richard North Patterson
This manuscript of your yours that has just come back from another editor is a precious package. Don't consider it rejected. Consider that you've addressed it 'to the editor who can appreciate my work' and it has simply come back stamped 'not at this address.' Just keep looking for the right address. -Barbara Kingsolver
Rejected pieces aren't failures; unwritten pieces are. -Greg Daugherty
Along with the rejections are also the gems. Listen and trust your inner voice. Keep going. Keep doing. Keep believing. -Mia T. Starr
The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense. -Tom Clancy
Fiction is a lie. Good fiction is the truth in the lie. -Stephen King
Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light. -Joseph Pulitzer
Nouns are the bones that give a sentence body. But verbs are the muscles that make it go. -Mervin Block
Don't say the old lady screamed—bring her on and let her scream. -Mark Twain
Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. -Anton Chekhov
You only learn to be a better writer by writing. -Doris Lessing
Good writing is bad writing that was rewritten. -Marc Raibert
Writing is rewriting. A writer must learn to deepen characters, trim writing, intensify scenes. To fall in love with the first draft to the point where one cannot change it is to greatly enhance the prospects of never publishing. -Richard North Patterson
This manuscript of your yours that has just come back from another editor is a precious package. Don't consider it rejected. Consider that you've addressed it 'to the editor who can appreciate my work' and it has simply come back stamped 'not at this address.' Just keep looking for the right address. -Barbara Kingsolver
Rejected pieces aren't failures; unwritten pieces are. -Greg Daugherty
Along with the rejections are also the gems. Listen and trust your inner voice. Keep going. Keep doing. Keep believing. -Mia T. Starr
