"The best training is to read and write, no matter what. Don’t live with a lover or roommate who doesn’t respect your work. Don’t lie, buy time, borrow to buy time. Write what will stop your breath if you don’t write."
— Grace Paley
Photo: Daehyun Park / Flickr Creative Commons
After spending a grueling weekend editing, the quote on this blog post moved me. Did the words make you teary too, or am I exhausted? How lovely they are.
I thought I’d never breathe again. How powerful is that and I’m no wieny?! (so there–to the punctuation)
It is beautifully said and cuts right to my heart.
Very true words, indeed!
I image all creative types feel this way – be it dancing, music, painting, and the like.
Yes, I was at book club last night and saying that my first novel is going in a drawer… am several thousand words into my second. They all sighed, probably at the pie-in-the-sky dreams and “wasted effort” of it all. I know I have to write. That is all.
If your book group thought that, they must not be writers or otherwise they would understand the need to write.
No, I have a writers’ critique group… but this was my book club–they’re readers, not writers. I think they just can’t believe someone would write so much on something that may or may not ever be published!
They think they know you but they don’t know that part of you. It’s like family. They don’t understand either. Hang in there. A new day is coming!
Thanks for the reblog, Robin!
thanks for sharing this – it is so true
You are welcome. I agree. Truer words never spoken.
Best advice ever!
Yes. Write. Write. Write when the spirit moves.
It’s perfect.
Such a complex emotion captured beautifully in but a few words.
I love this because it hits home for me. Thank you.
It hit home for me too.
They didn’t move me, but they are right. If we don’t make time for writing when we need to, we’re denying a fundamental part of ourselves.
It hit me at a time when I needed to hear the words.
The best words can do that
A truth glows when it is inside such a short piece of text. Life fills the soul – sometimes to bursting. Expression in form, be it art of whatever kind, is a salve and renewal for that soul. Thank you for sharing that.
That was beautifully said Michael. I love the “salve and renewal for the soul.” So true.
Such true words, and I hope they give you post weekend editing comfort & inspiration. It’s a interesting thing, I read a WP blog post a while ago where the blogger indicated her partner thought her blogging was dumb, and I was so sad, it just stayed with me for days.
I think I read the same post. It made me sad too. The quote did bolster my weary brain and gave me peace with the notion that spending time hunched over my computer all weekend was a good thing.
It’s a good thing for me to have read right now, Robin. It’s 6.30am (ish) here and I am up early to write. So why am I reading your blog…? (Other than enjoyment, I guess I’m succumbing to the wicked ways of procrastination!) This is inspiring and it’s come at the appropriate time for me! Thank you!
It came to my inbox at a most opportune time as well. I was beat up from editing and I needed to hear the words too. It is 10:45-ish pm my time. I really ought to totter off to bed. Can one be fried and wired at the same time?
I am happy to be your source of fodder for procrastination.
lol, yes, a great source of procrastination, keep it up!
Keep the faith, girl, it sounds like you’re doing really well. Remember to take some space from your work as well so it doesn’t drive you crazy!
And don’t stay up too late like me, my wires are completely fried this morning…! 
I love this quote. Very inspiring and so true.
Don’t we share this strange passion? The author put it to words so beautifully.
Oh no, I love it! Such passion and urgency! Thanks for sharing!
Yes. Urgency was the word I was searching for Sarah.