Connie's Corner

Inspiring.....?

July 10 Prompt: Who are the authors that have inspired your work?

I've read thousands of books in my lifetime, not especially looking for inspriation, but more to be transported to another place or time, or just to be entertained. Reading is a great boredom eraser. Some of my favorites through the years are Rawlings (The Yearling), Salinger (Catcher in the Rye), Harper Lee (To Catch a Mockingbird), Daphne duMaurier (Rebecca), and Jane Austen. Although I loved them all and read some straight through, I hesitate to say they were inspiring to me.

It's probably because writing anything but letters never occured to me until I found this site so books never inspired me to write as the prompt asks.

But in my journey on this site, I have found a book and an author who have inspired me. Her name is Natalie Goldberg and the book is titled, Writing Down The Bones. Her words seem to speak specifically to me and always ring true. For example, she says anything we do fully, like writing, we do alone. I believe that and I believe unless you do something fully, it will not be done well. I know I am doing something fully when nothing can distract me. I am fully involved. When I do something fully, I am alone. Then she says, we have to work through the fear of success and failure. This really covers all areas of life. Sometimes I am so afraid of doing something wrong, I just don't try it at all. What a mistake, but part of human nature.

The thing that spoke to me most was the long repertoire of excuses...excuses not to write...or do anything you want to do. Like...Oh I can't right now. My children are young. Or I don't have a quiet place to write. Or I have too many interruptions...I'm too busy, no time. She calls it "monkey mind". Make of that whatever you will....

I guess the bottom line is if you really want to write, you will. Excuses are not valid and inspriation not all that necessary. Writing is so unique. You literally create something from nothing. The only tools necessary are paper and pencil....and you.

until next time...c