Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

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On Writing

4 Comments

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One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now. The impulse to save something good for a better place later is the signal to spend it now. Something more will arise for later, something better. These things fill from behind, from beneath, like well water.

Similarly, the impulse to keep to yourself what you have learned is not only shameful, it is destructive. Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes.
— Annie Dillard

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Filed Under: authors, the writing life

Comments

  1. Kit says

    November 22, 2016 at 5:13 am

    Powerful and applicable to many areas of life!

    Reply
    • Caroline says

      November 22, 2016 at 7:16 am

      Great observation!

      Reply
  2. Margaret Simon says

    November 23, 2016 at 5:55 pm

    This idea, that anything you do not give away becomes lost, is so wise. I want to hold on to this quote. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Caroline says

      November 24, 2016 at 7:03 am

      Happy Thanksgiving!

      Reply

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