It is sad truth of human nature, as the nightly news attests, that we seldom applaud the good people do in this world, while giving endless publicity to the evil-doers. So may I here and now on behalf of all the folks who share and learn at Lit Mag news, give out to Becky A GREAT BIG THANK YOU! You have created an unique forum, part confessional, part inspirational. And most of all, Becky, it's always interesting!
And for my fellow writers, let me share what has (sadly) taken me a lifetime to see-- when we create words that magically [not hyperbole] enter another person's mind, their soul actually [yes, not hyperbole] be it now or in the future. that is a miracle [ again, not hyperbole]. The tricky part, as I've learned the long and hard way, is to differentiate between ego, which is delusional, and soul, which like truth is eternal. Earning an MFA, winning a contest, getting your writing published, or even better a book, all can feed the ego--but then what? We know our egos are never, never satisfied--they always want more. But what we can forget, as Becky alludes to so well when she writes about the 'mystery' that is creativity, is what is truly important, the only thing really that is important: when your words somehow make that wondrous transition between 2 souls. There is only one greater miracle in the Universe: the love that mysteriously, magically, wondrously binds 2 disparate beings for a lifetime.
So true. You are a writer regardless of whether you’re rewarded for it. And few writers ever get the rewards that are commensurate with their efforts. But we keep writing. Because we have to. It’s how we process the world. It’s who we are.
I've been writing stories since second grade and two of those little efforts, with illustrations, are in Special Collections at Michigan State University's Library. I did dream of being in The New Yorker (who doesn't growing up in NYC?), but I also dreamed that my work would make enough of a mark to be collected, and that did happen. MSU *bought* my current and future literary papers some time ago and updates the archive at least once a year. This is a blog post for when it first happened: https://www.levraphael.com/papers.html
LOL. That was the first load. I think there were around 90 total up in the attic covering several decades of my career. And since then, in a year of touring and heavy publishing, there are usually several more: correspondence, ms. copies, publicity, etc.
There are people who must write We can't NOT write
There are those who want to write, read many critics, and barely write anything. I use to. loathe Now I simply feel sorry for them.
And there are those who write yet in the very cut-to-the-chase-words of Truman Capote referring to the words of either Jacqueline Sus(z?) author of the not quite immortal ValleyOf The Dolls and Return To The Valley Of The Dolls, or maybe it wasJack Kerouac who on the advise of all his friends and supporters ( that being his dog Byron, Allen Ginsberg ands Ginsberg's autant)/savant PeterOrlovsky) two days before publication changed his title from On The Load To the much more succinct albeit yes accurate ( On The Road) pithily anayLLzed by Coati with one penetrating commentl. THATS NOT WRITING> THATS TYPING. THUS , anyone with a computer can be a writer THEY CAN eschew sentences because poetry is aovonguard. and new and cool and you can write and ust keep on scrolllingdown unravelling their relatioship agonies, etc etc fpr 5 ten fifteen pages without a single metaphor or image or simile in. sight. Some of these poets also think that is ok.
tbc, unfotunately, I wonder what their acceptance rate iss
Now & then I recognize that I am feeling way too many feels about the publishing project. And by that I don't mean I'm feeling too much joy and delight. My mood gets into my writing -- and often the subject matter associated with that mood -- but writing another poem about insomnia or unrequited love is one thing -- writing another poem about trying to get my poems published -- um, no. Nobody wants to read poems about how the editors don't love my poems like they should. I am not a freelance writer, that is, I don't rely on paying my way with my writing, nor am I a professor who must publish or perish. So, thankfully, finding people who like my poems is only about that. When I was a baby poet my writing and my ambition for it (and for me as a writer) were hard to separate. A rejection meant *I* wasn't mounting the ladder. These days, when I realize the emotion is high, I step back. I look for something else worth the emotional ferment. Sending poems out is a clerical activity, like alphabetizing. So I remind myself.
Hey, thanks for this, Becky. I think this is true and real, for writing, and painting. You just keep working. All those "other people" doing great? Mostly illusions. But eff 'em, anyway.
It is sad truth of human nature, as the nightly news attests, that we seldom applaud the good people do in this world, while giving endless publicity to the evil-doers. So may I here and now on behalf of all the folks who share and learn at Lit Mag news, give out to Becky A GREAT BIG THANK YOU! You have created an unique forum, part confessional, part inspirational. And most of all, Becky, it's always interesting!
And for my fellow writers, let me share what has (sadly) taken me a lifetime to see-- when we create words that magically [not hyperbole] enter another person's mind, their soul actually [yes, not hyperbole] be it now or in the future. that is a miracle [ again, not hyperbole]. The tricky part, as I've learned the long and hard way, is to differentiate between ego, which is delusional, and soul, which like truth is eternal. Earning an MFA, winning a contest, getting your writing published, or even better a book, all can feed the ego--but then what? We know our egos are never, never satisfied--they always want more. But what we can forget, as Becky alludes to so well when she writes about the 'mystery' that is creativity, is what is truly important, the only thing really that is important: when your words somehow make that wondrous transition between 2 souls. There is only one greater miracle in the Universe: the love that mysteriously, magically, wondrously binds 2 disparate beings for a lifetime.
So true. You are a writer regardless of whether you’re rewarded for it. And few writers ever get the rewards that are commensurate with their efforts. But we keep writing. Because we have to. It’s how we process the world. It’s who we are.
I've been writing stories since second grade and two of those little efforts, with illustrations, are in Special Collections at Michigan State University's Library. I did dream of being in The New Yorker (who doesn't growing up in NYC?), but I also dreamed that my work would make enough of a mark to be collected, and that did happen. MSU *bought* my current and future literary papers some time ago and updates the archive at least once a year. This is a blog post for when it first happened: https://www.levraphael.com/papers.html
30 boxes! Were there golf shirts in the mix?
LOL. That was the first load. I think there were around 90 total up in the attic covering several decades of my career. And since then, in a year of touring and heavy publishing, there are usually several more: correspondence, ms. copies, publicity, etc.
This post made my morning because 1) it’s true and 2) Bill Murray made me laugh and 3) I needed to laugh. Thank you!
Beautifully written and conceived post, Becky. Thank you for these thoughtful words to start a sluggish week.
Thanks for this motivation, Becky. Just what I need to hear this morning.
Just what I needed to read this Monday morning. Excellent post
Just restacked. Thank you for this!
There are people who must write We can't NOT write
There are those who want to write, read many critics, and barely write anything. I use to. loathe Now I simply feel sorry for them.
And there are those who write yet in the very cut-to-the-chase-words of Truman Capote referring to the words of either Jacqueline Sus(z?) author of the not quite immortal ValleyOf The Dolls and Return To The Valley Of The Dolls, or maybe it wasJack Kerouac who on the advise of all his friends and supporters ( that being his dog Byron, Allen Ginsberg ands Ginsberg's autant)/savant PeterOrlovsky) two days before publication changed his title from On The Load To the much more succinct albeit yes accurate ( On The Road) pithily anayLLzed by Coati with one penetrating commentl. THATS NOT WRITING> THATS TYPING. THUS , anyone with a computer can be a writer THEY CAN eschew sentences because poetry is aovonguard. and new and cool and you can write and ust keep on scrolllingdown unravelling their relatioship agonies, etc etc fpr 5 ten fifteen pages without a single metaphor or image or simile in. sight. Some of these poets also think that is ok.
tbc, unfotunately, I wonder what their acceptance rate iss
Thank you so much, Becky!
A lovely, timeless message from a dedicated troubadour with a big, generous heart.
Thank you for this exquisitely written ode to the creative process!
Love the Bill Murray rant! Crazy but effective.
Now & then I recognize that I am feeling way too many feels about the publishing project. And by that I don't mean I'm feeling too much joy and delight. My mood gets into my writing -- and often the subject matter associated with that mood -- but writing another poem about insomnia or unrequited love is one thing -- writing another poem about trying to get my poems published -- um, no. Nobody wants to read poems about how the editors don't love my poems like they should. I am not a freelance writer, that is, I don't rely on paying my way with my writing, nor am I a professor who must publish or perish. So, thankfully, finding people who like my poems is only about that. When I was a baby poet my writing and my ambition for it (and for me as a writer) were hard to separate. A rejection meant *I* wasn't mounting the ladder. These days, when I realize the emotion is high, I step back. I look for something else worth the emotional ferment. Sending poems out is a clerical activity, like alphabetizing. So I remind myself.
Yes! Thank you!
This came just in time. I've been in a bit of a slump lately. Thank you!
Hey, thanks for this, Becky. I think this is true and real, for writing, and painting. You just keep working. All those "other people" doing great? Mostly illusions. But eff 'em, anyway.