For me, the bad beginning is just something to build on. It’s no big deal. You have to give yourself permission to do that because you can’t expect to write regularly and always write well. That’s when people get into the habit of waiting for the good moments, and that is where I think writer’s block comes from.
~~ Jennifer Egan, Pulitzer-prize winning novelist
Well if it takes courage to write badly, then today is my courageous day. I’ve been waiting for inspiration, for the perfect words to flow out of my head and onto the page. It’s not happening. So here’s what I have to say.
Let’s aim big and live a life that’s less than perfect.
Why?
Instead of aiming for the impossibly perfect, I’m looking for the good enough. And you know what I think? That takes courage, the kind of courage I want to practice in my life.
It takes courage to live badly, to live a life that’s less than perfect. You have to give yourself permission to live “badly” – to not expect yourself to do everything right.
And do you know what it takes to give yourself permission to live the imperfect life?
You have to have the courage to love yourself.
Loving yourself is a courageous act. And the result of that courage is freedom.
Do you care about yourself? You undoubtedly care about a lot of people. Do you have the courage it takes to put yourself on the list of people you care about?
The list of people you love may be long but if your own name isn’t on it, it’s not long enough.
Your thoughts?
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For those of you in the Austin Area:
Join us for a dose of imperfect courage at our next Re-Story Circle Workshop… a time for personal exploration and enrichment through journal writing prompts and deep conversation:
Monday, March 11 (South Austin) or Wednesday, March 13 (North Austin)
More information at https://www.jeanneguy.com/re-story-circles/
For you writers, here’s the complete quote that Mary Day Long (one of my “critique divas”) sent to me:
[Be] willing to write really badly. It won’t hurt you to do that. I think there is this fear of writing badly, something primal about it, like: “This bad stuff is coming out of me…” Forget it! Let it float away and the good stuff follows. For me, the bad beginning is just something to build on. It’s no big deal. You have to give yourself permission to do that because you can’t expect to write regularly and always write well. That’s when people get into the habit of waiting for the good moments, and that is where I think writer’s block comes from. Like: It’s not happening. Well, maybe good writing isn’t happening, but let some bad writing happen.
~~ Jennifer Egan, Pulitzer-prize winning novelist
Thanks, Jeanne, I needed the pep talk. I’m still struggling with my Trees story. I like the idea of bad writing being ok, too. I can do that.
Love you,
Lynne
Give me a T.
T!
Give me an R.
R!
Give me an E.
E!
Give me another E.
E!
Give me an S.
S!
What do you got?
TREES!!!!
I believe the old one letter at a time still seems to work…
I’m afraid you’ve failed at writing badly, Jeanne. You’ll just have to try again tomorrow.
I’m speechless. To verify the accuracy of your comment regarding the integrity of my writing, let me check with another trusted critic, Pepe Le Pew, and I’ll get back with you.
What BAD writing??? There is no BAD writing!!! Writing GOOD!! Not Writing BAD!!!
. . . . in my opinion.
WOW. Loving myself…a novel idea, no pun intended. Groans accepted!
This topic is truly giving me pause…
BTW, I like your opinion Lynn!
I’ve been wondering why it was taking me so long to read this. Now I know. I was waiting today, when I need it most. I am living badly and loving myself through. Not bad really, I’m rather enjoying it.
Making me smile, lady…thanks for the comment.
I know the staircase is there, even if I can not see it. Martin Luther King said something like that about FAITH.
Courage and faith seem to go hand in hand (like elephants & peanuts).
Gotcha. Makes it easier, too, if we take one step at a time.