A weblog devoted to spurring a conversation among those who use words to varying degrees in their daily work. Hosted by John Ettorre, a Cleveland-based writer and editor. Please email me at: john.ettorre@gmail.com. "There comes a time when you realize that everything is a dream, and only those things preserved in writing have any possibility of being real." --James Salter
Every Once in a While, You Just Have to
I'm a Cleveland, Ohio-based writer, editor and writing coach, with more than 25 years of experience, including stints in Chicago and Washington, D.C. My work has appeared in more than 100 print and online publications, from the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor to local and regional publications. My work has been recognized by awards (including an Emmy) from four journalism groups.
12 Comments:
"...you know what Joel, every now and then you gotta say, what the f***. Saying what the f*** gives you freedom. Freedom brings you opportunity...."
From the smart and classic comedy, Risky Business.
I know I'm dating myself, but this is one of my all time favorite films (1983). I wish I'd written the screenplay. :-)
Neve Black
That was a great movie, even if it had the dubious distinction of launching the career of that oddest of all Hollywood ducks, Tom Cruise. With those unforgettable eyes, she was beyond captivating in that movie. Nearly every man in America (and I suppose some women also) pined for her that year.
Yes. Rebecca De Mornay, alias Lana was most definately firecracker, hot in that movie. It made me want to take a long ride on train somewhere. :-)
Now, I know we really went off track (no pun intended)here, but the quote I mentioned above did remind me of your post.
Hard to believe that movie is now 26 years old, isn't it? That just seems unbelievable to me. I remember it like it was last year, almost. But then, that's the most natural feeling in the world as you slip into middle age, or so my middle aged friends tell me.
Middle age? Hmmm...I don't know John, I don't think I'll make it past 60. lol.
NB
I don't doubt that, Neve. But what fun you'll have until then!
Lamott's quote is fundamental. It applies to life, of course, not just writing. But that practice of making space for intuition, whether or not it grows out of a meditation practice or something else, is fundamental. It's why I don't experience writer's block, and why I don't think anyone needs to. (As distinct from fallow periods.)
Well said. Who could argue with that. There's no output in any creative field without the proper input, just like no reaping for the farmer without first sowing.
You've been a busy little blogger, John. This post resonates. There are a lot of decisions I've made in life with my head and not my heart and I wish sometimes I could see how things would have worked out if I would have gone with my heart.
If only we could live life backward, and make those decisions with what we know today. But no such luck. All you can do is resolve to do things differently from now on. And if you're like the rest of us, Donna, that, too, will be an utterly imperfect exercise.
Speaking of creativity, the following is a wonderful link on the subject. A talk by author Elizabeth Gilbert. It's 20 minutes long. I found it very inspiring. It speaks of creativity and also... doing the work.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html
Thanks, I'll check it out, and hope others will also. Those TED talks are generally so damn interesting. They have some of the most fascinating people, and I even like the slick BW commercials that precede them.
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