Last year when I first started blogging, I found this incredible post at Hip Writer Mama. Talk about inspiring! I printed it out and hung it on my desk where I could see it every day. Read it. Print it. Cherish it. It's that good.
It isn't always easy to stay positive. There's always somebody bigger, smaller, faster, better. Your own mind can become your worst enemy. That's when you need a little pick-me-up.And I'm not talking about Ben & Jerry's pick-me-ups (although those boys HAVE sent me to rapturous heights before)!
I have inspirational quotes hanging on my fridge, living on my hard drive, taped to the bathroom mirror. Sometimes I become blind to them, forget they are there. But when I start getting down, I always know where to look to bring myself back up.
This is the time of year when people look back at what they've accomplished and think about what they want the future to bring. I thought I'd share some of the quotes that inspire me and invite you to tell me some that motivate you. They can be related to writing, or just to life in general. Here are a few of mine.
I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.
- Thomas Jefferson
The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
- Mark Twain
Books aren't written, they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't quite done it...
- Michael Crichton
So tell me, what inspires you? Leave me a quote in the comments. Together, we can inspire each other to great heights in the coming year.
------------------------------
Can you believe it's already the 7th Day of Christmas? This month is flying by way too fast!
Believe it or not, neither of the books from the First Day were chosen so they are back up for grabs. That's right! Choice #1 is the ARC of Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl. Choice #2 is a copy of the award-winning YA Troy by Adéle Geras.
The randomly generated winner from the 6th Day of Christmas is:
Congratulations, T. Anne! Email me at solvangsherrie at gmail dot com and let me know which prize you'd like to receive from Robin.
Leave a quote in the comments section and if you're a follower, you'll be automatically entered in today's drawing. Chin up!
27 comments:
One of my favorite quotes (good for revision time) is Thomas Edison's "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
I love the quote about books being rewritten. And of course, my mind is blank on a quote to share. Please forgive me.
I love those quotes you picked out!
I have two... you ready?
#1- "Don't let the bastards grind you down." Margaret Atwood
#2- "Fear is inevitable, I have to accept that, but I cannot allow it to paralyze me." Isabel Allende
And many many more... but this is enough for now. :)
LOVE the post! You are so right--we need those affirmations to keep going.
My favorite quote is this one by Anais Nin:
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."
Go eat some Ben and Jerry's. You deserve it--everyone deserves a little indulgence!
sf
Great post - love it!
The poem on my blog today is a biggie for me. Other things that inspire me are the success stories of Patricia Polacco and Wilson Rawls. :)
Ask me to think of an inspirational quote, and that's when I can't think of one. Maybe I'll get back to you on that. :-)
What inspires me is reading something brilliantly written & remembering how badly I want to put my words on paper & shoot to get anywhere near what I've just read.
Love reading these quotes! Here's one but I don't know who said it:
"Failure is not the worst thing in the world. The very worst is not to try."
Received Hamlet, BTW. Thanks, Sherrie.
My guy is constantly telling me, "You are what you want to be." I keep repeating that to myself on a daily basis, ending it with - a writer.
I'm deaf so one of the quotes hanging above my desk is, "The only disability in life is a bad attitude."
And just last night another writer friend quoted, "Get some steel and dip your nerves in it." I plan on making a sign with that quote.
Wonderful post and thank you for reminding me, encouragement comes in all forms. (Hugs)Indigo
Love all these quotes!
I use this one to remind me not to focus on what everyone else is doing and accomplishing... and to trust my voice and instincts.
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde.
And this one reminds me that there is always still time. And no matter how long it takes, I can still do the things I know I'd later regret not having done.
"It is never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot
Tricia: Great one! And a good reminder that we have to work hard sometimes to get what we want.
Susan: You're forgiven :)
Valerie: I love Margaret Atwood. That is the perfect quote for her!
SF: What a great quote! I plan to be very courageous. Because the Ben & Jerry's tends to make you expand in different ways!
Shannon: Success stories always inspire me, too. They make it easier to believe that it could happen to me =D
Rebecca: I know how that is. It's okay. I can wait :)
Becky: Good authors can be very inspiring, too. And sometimes bad ones!
Yat-Yee: Good reminder to keep trying. Enjoy Hamlet!
Indigo: Great quotes, especially the one from your guy. Thanks for sharing!
Casey: I'm printing those two out. Those are perfect reminders for me!
I love the Thomas Jefferson quote. It's amazing how much you can accomplish with hard work.
And I can't wait to get Beautiful Creatures! I ordered it from Amazon last week.
Wow! Great Oscar Wilde quote on Casey's comment! So true!
Mine is simple:
Just do it! (Nike) :)
I collect quotes. Pinned to the bulletin board behind my computer:
"Never, never, never quit."
-Winston Churchill
I think I received the next two from SCBWI e-newsletters. (The last one cracks me up.)
"Love the writing,
love the writing,
love the writing
... the rest will follow,"
- Jane Yolen
"I have the heart of a small boy. It is in a glass jar on my desk."
- Stephen King
Mark Twain quotes are also some of my favorites. He was brilliant.
Drat! I must get Troy!
I love your quotes and thank you for the reminder to Vivian's blog.
My current website quote is:
"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now." -- Chinese Proverb
I love a good quote. Great post!
"One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time."
Andre Gide
You are so sweet, Sherrie. I'm so honored the post inspires you!
I've actually got something up my sleeve on inspiration, so I'll have to hurry up and get working on a special post!
I love this quote by Vincent Van Gogh. "What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?"
I'm going to have to go with Yoda on this one: "Do or do not. There is no try." :-)
Love all these, especially Oscar Wilde.
I've tried to live by Atwood's adage ever since my high school Latin teacher made us memorize it: Illegitimi non carborundum!
(Yes, he was a bit of a rebel.)
AHH! I want that Beautiful Creatures! Can't believe no one has snatched it up yet.
As for inspiring quotes isn't there that one about "Professional writers are just the writers who never gave up." I'm totally butchering that, but you get the idea.
Ack! I was so taken with remembering Latin I forgot the quote (source unknown):
"Leap and the net will appear!"
Me? Moi? Ack! After a loooong hard day I am elated! You just shot more energy into me than a fully loaded Dr. Pepper =) I was totally enjoying your post and was going to thank you for all the inspiration but now you've bolstered me to places of unsurpassed happiness. For my wonderful prize... I choose the MS critique. *Happy Dancing* Let me know what I need to do.
Elana: I'm a big believer in hard work. And you are going to LOVE Beautiful Creatures!
Kelly: Simple is good, too :)
Dawn: Another collector! All three of the people you quoted are inspiring. Thanks for those!
PJ: I love Chinese proverbs. And who knows, you might just win Troy this time!
Katie: That quote gave me chills. Love it!
Vivian: I can't wait to see how you inspire me again!
Anna: My son would love you! And those were wise words from that muppet :)
Kathryn: I'm impressed that you still remember the Latin. Thanks for the translation below :)
LiLa: I was surprised that it didn't get chosen, too. Great book. And great "butchered" quote too :)
T. Anne: Yay! I'm so glad I could make your day! I'll email you with the details.
Love those quotes and the post.
Here's another one I like: “In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” - Albert Camus
Never give up on what you love!
my kids inspire me to be better. love he quotes :) and congrads TAnne
I like the "Books are re-written" quote.
That's a good one for anyone who is an author.
Jackee: That's a great quote. Thanks!
Shelli: Kids are the best kind of inspiration :)
Catie: That quote is a great reminder when you start getting depressed about edits!
Post a Comment