Moving Forward

I was innocently eating lunch with RadioMan last week. Sandwiches and chit-chat about bebe, talking about our busy weeks. You know, the stuff married people talk about on a non-date date. When I look at the wall and hanging up over our table is a quote from Nora Roberts.

You know know I have the love for Nora. I think I have even more for her now because the quote is...well, so simple, it's kind of stunning. "...if you don't step forward you're always in the same place."

I finished a project I've been uber-excited about for the past six or so months. And it's a solid project. A good project. A sooper-sekrit project so I can't give you guys the details yet. But as I was eating lunch and talking with RadioMan about my plans for the week, the sign was a reminder that I needed to start something new. Get out of my comfort zone a little bit. The project I just wrapped? Out of my comfort zone. And incredibly freeing along the way. The project I have in mind next? Outside my comfort zone just a little bit more...and I hope the next project and the one after that and the one after that are out of my comfort zone, too. Because that is moving forward, and that is living.

As I was making the graphic above (because I didn't have my phone to actually snap a pic of the quote-poster-thingy), I thought about a few other favorite quotes...and I think I'll share them with you guys, too.

"If you invent two or three people and turn them loose in your manuscript, something is bound to happen to them -- you can't help it; and then it will take you the rest of the book to get them out of the natural consequences of that occurrence, and so first thing you know, there's your book all finished up and never cost you an idea." -- Mark Twain

A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it to be God. - Sidney Sheldon

My own experience is that once a story has been written, one has to cross out the beginning and the end. It is there that we authors do most of our lying. - Anton Chekhov

I have been successful probably because I have always realized that I knew nothing about writing and have merely tried to tell an interesting story entertainingly. - Edgar Rice Burroughs

People on the outside think there’s something magical about writing, that you go up in the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a story, but it isn’t like that. You sit in back of the typewriter and you work, and that’s all there is to it. - Harlan Ellison

Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer. - Barbara Kingsolver

I love all these quotes for different reasons, but besides the Nora, I think Barbara's is the most true: we all have a story to tell. An experience to relate...and when it takes us out of the comfort zone, that is when we know it's good.

Do you have a favorite inspirational/writing quote?

Comments

  1. What a great post. I can't wait to hear your sekrit! I'm trying to think of a quote. I think my favorites are the old standbys: Nora's "you can't fix a blank page" and Anne Lamott's "bird by bird."

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  2. Both of those are great...I quote 'you can't fix a blank page' all the time! It's like a mantra for those days when the words don't flow.

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  3. Fabulous post, Kristi, and so true. You have to move forward constantly. My favorite quote isn't really writing related. It comes from Yoda - "Do or not do. There is no try." or something like that. To me, it means that no matter how hard it is, just do it. Oh, wait, that's another quote :)

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  4. Dying to know your sekrit....I know it'll be awesome.

    Enjoyed your quotes. I have several quotes I like and have sticky notes with some pasted around here and there...but I've always loved "you can't fix a blank page"...so simple and so true!

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  5. I love that Yoda quote, Margery, and I totally agree with it!

    Christine, that is one of my faves, too. :)

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  6. One I have on my bulletin board is from George R.R. Martin: "I do sometimes think I've thrown too many balls in the air. Why did I have to make it the Seven Kingdoms. Wouldn't Five Kingdoms have been sufficiently complicated?"

    For me, it's a reminder that you don't have to over-complicate things. I read it when I was writing Bix and struggling to find an end. One of my endings I threw everything but the kitchen sink in. But the final ending--barring you know, an actual book editor--is much smaller but richer, I think.

    I can't wait to see the sekrit project--you've been teasing long enough :)

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  7. Kristina, I have a love/hate relationship with the blank page. I'm eager to start, but afraid to release the first words. But I always go back to an Anne Sexton quote "When I am writing, I am doing what I was meant to do."

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  8. Thank you, Kristina! This post was full of wonderful reminders and awesome inspiration. I love the "If you don't ask, the answer will always be no." part of that quote. It's so true, and just what I need to hear this morning. The ask is always the hardest thing for me to do.

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  9. LOL, Margie! And I can't wait to *share*! Love the George quote.

    Gemma, I know that love/hate relationship SO well...and Anne is right - when we're writing (even in the struggle) we're doing what we were meant to do.

    Constance, I'm so glad I posted today! This is a post I've been thinking about for a while...I guess Nora knew the right timing! :)

    D'Ann, thanks for stopping in!

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  10. Excellent post, Kristina--and a great quote from Nora! My go-to quote is from Eleanor Roosevelt... "You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

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  11. Oh, that's a great one, Marin! Thanks for sharing - I'm adding to my Inspiration File now.

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