Brave. Grateful. Uncomplaining.




Working on Your Craft



This week, I began discussing some of the ideas in Elizabeth Gilbert's new book: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (2015). Today, I want to summarize some of her suggestions about doing creative work.  She says:
  • Make things. Then share them with an open heart.
  • You can live a long life, making and doing really cool things the entire time.
  • Thank creativity for having blessed you with a charmed, interesting, passionate existence.
  • Simply vow to the Universe to write forever, regardless of the result.
  • Be brave. Grateful. Uncomplaining.
  • Never ask writing to be easy. Ask only that it be interesting.
  • Sneak off and have an affair with your most creative self.
  • Curiosity is the secret.  Curiosity is the is the truth and the way of creative living. Curiosity is the beginning and the end.
  • You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you passed your entire existence in devotion to the noble human virtue of inquisitiveness.
  • Don't let go of your courage the moment things stop being easy or rewarding.
So, do the work.  Do it with an open heart,  Be brave, joyful, and patient. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

12th Al Jazeera Forum: Session 4 - Changing Alliances in the Region

Image
Where is the Middle East Heading? On April 28-29, 2018, Al Jazeera held its 12th Forum providing an opportunity for leading scholars and other experts to discuss a variety of topics affecting the Arab world.  The website for the forum,  @aljazeeraform , provides additional information and links to the videos of each session.  You can follow the Twitter coverage at  #AJForum . As I noted in my  first post  in this series, I am working from my notes, so I apologize in advance if I incorrectly paraphrase the remarks of any speaker. I was also reliant on the quality of the translation services and their audibility. Therefore, I am happy to make any needed edits to this summary. For summaries of the other sessions see: Opening Session Session 1: The Gulf Crisis Session 2: Iran and the Gulf Session 3: Change in the Region? Session 5: Palestine and the "Deal of the Century" Session 6: The Media During Times of Crisis Session 7: Where is th...
Read more

The 12th Al Jazeera Forum: Session 7 - Where is the Gulf Headed?

Image
Political Stability or a New Wave of Change? On April 28-29, 2018, Al Jazeera held its 12th Forum providing an opportunity for leading scholars and other experts to discuss a variety of topics affecting the Arab world.  The website for the forum,  @aljazeeraform , provides additional information and links to the videos of each session.  You can follow the Twitter coverage at  #AJForum . As I noted in my  first post  in this series, I am working from my notes, so I apologize in advance if I incorrectly paraphrase the remarks of any speaker. I was also reliant on the quality of the translation services and their audibility. Therefore, I am happy to make any needed edits to this summary. For summaries of the other sessions see: Opening Session Session 1: The Gulf Crisis Session 2: Iran and the Gulf Session 3: Change in the Region? Session 4: Changing Alliances in the Arab World Session 5: Palestine and the "Deal of the Century" Session 6...
Read more

The 12th Al Jazeera Forum: Session 6 - The Media During Times of Crisis

Image
Responsibility of Combatants:  Don't Kill Journalists! On April 28-29, 2018, Al Jazeera held its 12th Forum providing an opportunity for leading scholars and other experts to discuss a variety of topics affecting the Arab world.  The website for the forum,  @aljazeeraform , provides additional information and links to the videos of each session.  You can follow the Twitter coverage at  #AJForum . As I noted in my  first post  in this series, I am working from my notes, so I apologize in advance if I incorrectly paraphrase the remarks of any speaker. I was also reliant on the quality of the translation services and their audibility. Therefore, I am happy to make any needed edits to this summary. For summaries of the other sessions see: Opening Session Session 1: The Gulf Crisis Session 2: Iran and the Gulf Session 3: Change in the Region? Session 4: Changing Alliances in the Arab World Session 5: Palestine and the "Deal of the ...
Read more