Ask Winston

My job is taxing. . .but I live to serve!
I was sniffing around the office and noticed that the Two-Legged Writer has opened a new file, which means a new book. I should have guessed what she was up to -- she's been late with my supper several days in a row! And there's a lot of mumbling and hair pulling going on, too. I do my best to help -- chewing on the end of her pen when she's writing, or keeping her lap warm while she's typing. But even a Wonder Dog can only do so much.

She keeps a small leather bound notebook on her desk and, while I was waiting ever so patiently for her to take me on my afternoon constitutional, I sniffed around in it. Turns out, she keeps inspirational quotes in there, from other writers. She seems to be referring to it a lot these days. So I thought, instead of answering a question today, I'd share some of those wise words in case any of you other two-legged writers need a little bark of encouragement.

"Writing is show business." Louise Boggess"Metaphors are exactly held errors." John Ciardi"The past is not a package we can lay on the shelf." Emily Dickinson"Doubt is the author's dragon." Paul Fleischman"The moment of inspiration is not a gift. It must be worked for. If the artist only works when he feelts like it, he's not apt to build up much of a body of work." Madeleine L'Engle"I try to leave out the parts that people skip." Elmore Leonard"For as I look back on what I have written, I can see that the very person who have taken away my time and space are those who have given me something to say." Katherine Paterson"Truth that is boring is not truth." Isaac Bashevis Singer
The Two Legged Writer says this one is her favorite:
"Only God gets it right the first time." Stephen King

Now, get back to work or no Milk Bones for you!