Why Do I Enjoy My Blog? Because Of Other People...

While writing yesterday's blog post, I was looking back through a few things on the website, and I stumbled over the tree roots of some great Reader Comments that were poking up from the bottom of a number of old posts.

One thing I love about this site is the great variety of readers who pepper the pages with web hits. Oftentimes, these readers (many of whom are rabid, writing-crazed word junkies themselves) leave tremendously insightful comments behind them before running off to their next bit of reading. In fact (as I mentioned on yesterday's post), it is not infrequent for these comments to be divergent from or even opposed to my own views, which provides readers with a myriad of windows through which they can view the world of writing. Today, I am collecting some of my favorite comments into a central locale.

Read.
Learn.
Enjoy.



From post: Thoughts On Day Jobs & Self-Deprecation

Posted by: Paul Joseph

I completely see myself as a writer, who for now (and God do I hope it is only for now) earns my paycheck through another venue. I also know if I ever go back to teaching, I will be BOTH a writer AND a teacher - the way Jennifer Lopez is BOTH a singer AND an actress, the way Dane Cook is BOTH an actor AND a comedian, and the way Snooki is...well, never mind....

I believe you have to fully own whatever it is you set out to do in life. If you don't, you will fall short, and ultimately, let yourself down.




From post: Thoughts On Mission Statements And Writing

Posted by: Mark

This post reminded me of some words I read of Ursula K. Le Guin's when I first started writing. For a long time I had the words posted on the wall of my office. I'm not sure what happened to that piece of paper. Her advice has never left me though. Here's what she said:

"Socrates said, 'The misuse of language induces evil in the soul.' He wasn't talking about grammar. To misuse language is to use it the way politicians and advertisers do, for profit, without taking responsibility for what the words mean. Language used as a means to get power or make money goes wrong: it lies. Language used as an end in itself, to sing a poem or tell a story, goes right, goes towards the truth.

A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what they say, how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls. Story-tellers and poets spend their lives learning that skill and art of using words well. And their words make the souls of their readers stronger, brighter, deeper."




From post: The Trials Of Writing A Work...After Writing A Work Of Art

Posted by: E. Elle

Writing is subjective so you may as well write what's burning your soul rather than what others say is burning your soul. You have only yourself to answer to in the end, anyway.




From post: What Is Wrong With Just...Writing?

Posted by: Josh Hagy

Sometimes the most important thing a writer can do is just write. It's amazing how often people lose sight of that.




From post: Hi, My Name Is So-And-So, And I Am An Aspiring Writer

Posted by: Levi Montgomery

Writer: Someone who writes (with some degree of passion).
Author: The writer of any particular book.
Aspiring/learning/wannabe/any other weasley adjective writer: Someone who is still waiting for the twink of a fairy godmother's magic wand.

Well, guess what? Ain't no fairy godmother. Or rather, you are your own fairy godmother. Twink that wand, write that magic, claim that word!

Stop aspiring and start writing.




From post: Life Is In The Moment

Posted by: Suzannah

Truth is, there might not be a tomorrow. It's good to have goals, but you're right--we need to enjoy our lives right now.




From post: Writing For Profit vs. Writing With Passion

Posted by: Amanda J.

...if you love what you're writing, then chances are other people will too, and your book will earn a special place in more people's hearts than something that was just pushed out to make some cash.

I think that the books written for profit have their place in the world, but I don't think that the majority of them will last. They tend to fade away for the most part.




Every comment from post: The Best Writing Advice. Ever.




I understand that many of you won't have the time to check out all the links from this post, but if you have a spot of free time over "Christmas break," I encourage you to use some of it clicking around. Each person listed above is worth checking out (in fact, several months ago, I listed Suzannah's blog among my 5 Great Websites For Writers And Writing, and Paul Joseph's blog is one of my favorite new daily internet destinations), and each post I listed has more useful comments than just those included.

Keep learning, Dear Writers.
Keep growing.
Keep sharing.
~JM

Other Places Where I Hang Out:

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