I always fall upon this blog like a starving looter, looking for things to pillage. It never fails to inspire me.
Today I found this, from featured poet Phoebe Salzman-Cohen. This was her response to a question about advice and suggestions for fellow young poets.
Following my theme of Green Ink being a bit of a scrapbook for ideas and things I've found inspiring, I've put it here as a reminder to myself, and hopefully to inspire you guys too!
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- Although it’s important to be able to take constructive criticism and improve your work, don’t let yourself be hurt by what other people say. There are some people who, although they mean well, aren’t always worth listening to.
– Read a lot. Not just poetry, and not just novels. Learn as much as you can about everything you can, and don’t be afraid to learn from someone else.
– Notice things– notice things around you, things about people you’re with, things about yourself, etc.
– Don’t get caught up in what’s “accepted” or in what seems cool. Don’t feel obligated to conform to what you see. (But as I said before, learning from other people is important.)
– Enjoy yourself! Writing isn’t worth it if you torture yourself over it.
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Any more writing/creative advice to share today, dear readers?
Thank you very much! I'm excited that you found that inspiring.
ReplyDeleteWow - thanks for stopping by Phoebe! It was a most timely and inspiring message for me today. It was great reading your work on ONS too.
ReplyDeleteGreat message :) and I really like the advice that you added!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your flat-scrapbook theme. I just looked through the lovely pictures in the previous post, all the amazing rooms and home designs-- your blog is definitely a haven for the imagination.
Thanks so much for the wonderful links! Yes, inspiring indeed!
ReplyDeleteI am simply loving your blog- thanks so much for the visit to mine!
And I know this probably is a given for most writers but I always like to have pen/pencil and paper handy- a little notebook small enough for my purse, something on my bedside table...
I always seem to get inspired just as I lay my head down to sleep!
:)
I too loved the flat scrapbook, it does however feed my wish to move and re-arrange and decorate!
ReplyDeleteI hope the settling in is going well.
My only advice for writing - not that I really see myself in a position to be giving any - is edit, edit, edit, then edit some more!
Have you seen the new really tiny moleskine notebooks? They're not much larger than a credit card. So amazing to have in your purse or pocket. They're perfect for all those ideas that appear when you never seem to have something handy to write on. They come in packs of two and aren't expensive. I bought a bunch and put them all over the place!
Isn't that "don't torture yourself over writing" advice just great? So true. I wished I could follow it but I can't seem to stop the torture and so I cannot really write anything lately.
ReplyDeleteRebecca, I love the mini moleskine idea! Will be good to keep one by the bed, as Red Bird suggested :) I actually came up with the title of my novel at 2am, half asleep. I thankfully had a journal by my bed and wrote the title about 20 times over and over to make sure I had it, and also I couldn't see it so for all I knew the pen wasn't working. I wrote it so hard to make sure it was imprinted in the paper regardless!
ReplyDeleteLori, I too have found it hard to stop the torture lately. I talked to someone about it earlier in the week - how everything in my life is perfect at the moment - lovely new house, good job, great partner, and yet I'm not writing, and as such this thought is torturing me....I'm trying to just chill out and trust that the story is there and the words will come when they're ready. But I need to cultivate the discipline more, I know that. Good to know that I'm not the only one who feels a bit tortured by the whole thing sometimes :)
Happy weekend everyone, and happy May Day!
x
Great blog..I joined after finding you through another...
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow writer, another bit of advice I would toss in the mix would be:
Write with the honesty of a child. If you begin writing and you hear yourself say "I can't write about that!" then you are onto something honest and bold and probably very good...
"Don’t feel obligated to conform to what you see."
ReplyDeletePart of me is certain that you should be obligated to deform from what you see.
But that's the wee rebel in me. More naughty schoolboy than James Dean however... :os
Thanks for all the great advice everyone, and welcome new readers!!
ReplyDelete