Every day a writing quote appears in my inbox from
The Writer's Lifeline.
Sometimes it strikes a chord, sometimes not.
The one that chimed its arrival late Thursday is one I will keep close. The quote is attributed to
Donald Hall, America's
Poet Laureate from 2006 to 2007 and still a working writer as he enters his 80th year:
"Mere literary talent is common; what is rare is endurance, the continuing desire to work hard at writing."
I often say, and sincerely believe, that if I thought my best work was behind me, I'd be devastated.
Instead, I try to behave as if every writing day is the beginning of my career, not another fleeting 24 hours closer to its end.
Until Thursday night, I never thought of it as endurance, just simply the way that anyone who's lucky enough to enjoy working with words spends the days.
I guess that's why Hall's observation jumped off the screen -- a message of hope as twilight heralded the close of another writing day.
If you have a favorite quote that keeps you going, please
share it.
"You must do the thing you think you cannot do"...
