Menna Van Praag's Blog, page 49
February 8, 2013
Day 38 of 99 Days
“Life is a dream. He who robs us of our dreams robs us of our life.”
― Virginia Woolf, Orlando
Today I read an article by Julian Tepper, a young writer who recently wrote about meeting his literary hero, Philip Roth. The latter told him to quit writing: “I would quit while you’re ahead. Really. It’s an awful field. Just torture. Awful. You write and you write, and you have to throw almost all of it away because it’s not any good. I would say just stop now. You don’t want to do this to yourself. That’s my advice to you.” Elizabeth Gilbert, of Eat Pray Love fame, stepped in today to criticize Roth and suggest that those in positions of success should encourage others to dream big rather than not dream at all.
I paraphrase, but essentially this is it. Unsurprisingly, I agree with Ms. Gilbert. We should all encourage everyone to dream and dream big. Because when we stop dreaming, hoping, reaching out, reaching up, then our spirits start to wither and die. And then we stop living to merely survive. There’s nothing virtuous in being cynical and “realistic”. You’ll just end up a bitter being who tells others to give up before they’ve even started. Keep expanding, keep daring to dream. Be brave. Be a dreamer. The world needs you!
Pic: my books – each one a result of allowing myself to dream.
Day 38 of 99 Days
“Life is a dream. He who robs us of our dreams robs us of our life.”
― Virginia Woolf, Orlando
Today I read an article by Julian Tepper, a young writer who recently wrote about meeting his literary hero, Philip Roth. The latter told him to quit writing: ...
February 6, 2013
Day 35 of 99 Days
― George Eliot
A dear friend, when I told him 20 years ago that I wanted to be a writer, confessed to ...
Day 36 of 99 Days
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
On February 1st I joined in the 99 Days myself to edit my newest novel. For this draft I’m giving myself 28 days, the month of February, and I’ll send ...
Day 37 of 99 Days
― Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out
As I sit at my desk to write this, taking a little break from editing my novel, I can see the ...
Day 37 of 99 Days
“I feel so intensely the delights of shutting oneself up in a little world of one’s own, with pictures and music and everything beautiful.”
― Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out
As I sit at my desk to write this, taking a little break from editing my novel, I can see the trees in my garden, their branches bare against the blue sky, the scattering of snowdrops among the grasses, white puddles on green. I need somewhere beautiful in which to write. The sun rises at my window, my walls are adorned with pictures, right now Elton John plays while I write…
Many authors say they can only write in front of blank walls. But I’m with Virginia on this one. Beauty inspires me. It lifts my spirit and makes me smile. And, since this is the state in which I like to write, it’s perfect. We see many examples of successful creatives who suffer and the myth of the angst-ridden artist is a pervasive one. Sadly, Virginia herself was one such suffering soul. But it’s not true for me. Writing gives me great joy and, if it didn’t, I wouldn’t do it.
I believe in pursuing passion, pleasure and delight. I want to write in that environment and I want my readers to feel that way when they read my books. Admittedly, I don’t aspire to write great classics of Literature and admittedly, I usually find such classics (esp. the Russian ones) a little depressing. I like uplifting novels, stories that give me hope and expand my heart. I like pop music and romantic comedies. So, unless you want to be Tolstoy or Turgenev, make sure that the space in which you create, however small or makeshift, is as beautiful and inspiring as it can possibly be…
Pic: the view from my writing window this morning.
February 5, 2013
Day 36 of 99 Days
“I honour endurance, perseverance, industry, talent; because these are the means by which men achieve great ends.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
On February 1st I joined in the 99 Days myself to edit my newest novel. For this draft I’m giving myself 28 days, the month of February, and I’ll send it to my agents on March 1st. Then I’ll celebrate with a rather magnificent cream tea: scones, cucumber sandwiches, cake, clotted cream and hot chocolate. This last is in place of tea, not very British, I know, but I’ve somehow never taken to tea or coffee and only drink hot chocolate. I get some funny looks from my fellow Brits but I’ve not been deported yet.
Apologies, I got a little distracted by chocolate and cream… My point here is that sometimes, and certainly in this case, targets and schedules can be very helpful. While a story is first forming I leave it for as long as it needs – weeks, months or years – to take shape. But once it’s ready to be written then I find that the words respond very well to structure.
I have 20 major edits and 20 days (weekends reserved for family time, though there is a little wiggle room for more writing if needed) in which to do them. I’ve given myself my word that I’ll do them and I know I’ll keep it. This is incredibly important, with any endeavor in life – artistic or otherwise – and it took me a long time to learn it! So, whatever it is you’re doing, I highly recommend both schedules and keeping your word. These, especially the latter, will make the difference between actually fulfilling your dream or just talking about it for the rest of your life…
Pic: my desk & calendar – a gift from my Costa Rican adventure, gorgeous photo of frog by Ariel Kane.
February 4, 2013
Day 35 of 99 Days
“I’m proof against that word failure. I’ve seen behind it. The only failure a man ought to fear is failure of cleaving to the purpose he sees to be best.”
― George Eliot
A dear friend, when I told him 20 years ago that I wanted to be a writer, confessed to me that he’d always dreamt of doing the same but couldn’t stand all the rejection and failure he knew it would entail. It rather broke my heart to hear it but there was nothing I could do to convince him otherwise.
In the last 13 years of my life – when I’ve really put every cell of myself into being the best writer I can possibly be – I’ve encountered A LOT of rejection, disappointment and failure. But I think I’ve suffered significantly less of it than my friend who gave up before he started.
George Eliot is right. There is, no matter the outcome, a glorious feeling in giving a dream your all. If you succeed, that magnificence is magnified a million-fold, but believing in yourself and honouring your deepest desires is the true gift. However, if you never try then you suffer the worst sort of failure, worse than any external disappointment: you’ve failed and rejected yourself. And, of course, you never have the chance to succeed.
Pic: my typewriter charm. Rather perfectly “joy” is inscribed upon it, the name of the jeweler: Joy Everley @ https://www.facebook.com/joyeverley
February 3, 2013
Day 34 of 99 Days
― Charlotte Brontë
How well do you know yourself? How clearly can you see inside your own heart and mind? Do you know the depths of your creativity, the heights of your brilliance? Do you know what you’re ...
Day 34 of 99 Days
“The human heart has hidden treasures, in secret kept, in silence sealed.”
― Charlotte Brontë
How well do you know yourself? How clearly can you see inside your own heart and mind? Do you know the depths of your creativity, the heights of your brilliance? Do you know what you’re capable of – what you could accomplish – if you really and truly went for it, every day, and held nothing back?
If you think you have a fair, and fairly limited, idea of your own potential, then I must tell you: you know nothing. You have no idea what’s possible. Whatever you’ve achieved until now, you’ve barely scratched the surface. I know this because I’m constantly surprised at what I’m capable of – when I let go of my imagined limits – and why should you be any different?
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, or haven’t done, so far. It doesn’t matter who you think you are. Life awaits you. Every day, every moment is a chance to choose anew, to be courageous, to plumb the depths of your heart and discover the hidden treasures there.
Pic: “You Hold the Key to My Heart” Cake at Choccy Whoccy Do Dah in Soho, London.
