Hi friends! It’s time for your favorite running column on Nothing Any Good – Author Tweets of the Week.
Before we begin, a lot of you seem to be wondering what I listen to when I write. It’s different all the time. Depends on my mood and whether my brain can handle writing and listening to music at that moment.
What am I listening to currently?
There. Now you can listen along with me while you read.
All right, let’s go.
Sometimes writing becomes a drag. The words just won’t flow. It feels like your proverbial writing tongue is fat and twisted in knot.
https://twitter.com/bfisher_books/status/866599122878332928
I feel you @bfisher_books.
I like this next quote. Most quotes on social media are inspiring or funny, but there are rarely quotes that are deep. I rarely find myself pausing to contemplate the meaning of the quote.
Explore art in your writing- https://t.co/0MYBqjZ39k #amwriting #writerslife #writing #quotes #quote pic.twitter.com/hz1cO8AbAY
— WTWrites (@RealWTWrites) May 26, 2017
The job of art is to go deeper and deeper into the questions posed by Life. It’s not necessarily to answer them, but good art will never avoid the questions.
In addition to not avoiding the questions, good art also…
To create something so beautiful that it breaks a heart, pierces a soul, revives them both, steals a breath, and twists a mind. #amwriting
— Rachel Ashworth (@rashworthwrites) May 19, 2017
Ohhhhhh. I’ve been doing it all wrong. This is so simple. Break hearts. Pierce souls. Put them both back together again. Take breath away. And then bend the reader’s mind. It’s a piece of cake!
Speaking of desserts…
Ben & Jerry’s bans two scoops of same flavor until marriage equality comes to Australia https://t.co/qOg61JM1eP #LoveIsLove pic.twitter.com/thQyucVdWE
— GSN (@gaystarnews) May 24, 2017
I’m sharing this for a particular reason. I enjoyed this act of support that Ben & Jerry’s showed, but I was surprised at how much backlash it seemed to receive on Twitter. People were outraged that this was a shameless marketing ploy. I just have to say this. You can’t win with social media. Ben & Jerry’s is a company. Their job is to make a good product and to make money. That’s the nature of capitalism. I’m sorry.
If our companies don’t say anything, we get mad at them and say they’re not using their power and influence for good. But then once they do say something, we throw a hissy fit and say that they’re just being selfish money-grabbing pigs. We do this to our athletes too. We get mad when they don’t speak up, but when they do say something we shout, “Just shut up and play! No one wants to hear your views!”
It’s obnoxious, friends. This is a simple gesture from B&J. Will it change anything independently? Not at all. But change comes through a collective and progressive build up of pressure. Acts like this are needed by corporations.
Anyway, if you want to continue listening along with me.
Once again, Facebook won’t let me embed the next post. Don’t get me started again on their embedding feature.
This post made me crack up when I read it last night. It’s so true! Something about that guy leaning on the chair. If you asked me for my first hundred thoughts about this picture, one of them wouldn’t be, “He’s doing it wrong.” I have no idea what he’s trying to do!
Too funny. Thanks Assaph Mehr!
Good reminder for everyone. Setting boundaries. Walking away. Knowing your limits. These are all important aspects of strength.
This.
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. – Dalai Lama #quote #amwriting
— SojournSparrow (@AuthorLMHinton) April 18, 2017
❤️
And this.
"Whatever makes you #weird, is probably your greatest asset." @Joss Whedon#writing #amwriting #writerslife #film#Art 'Roadmap' by Aharmon pic.twitter.com/A3p0XUeJmK
— Novelicious (@noveliciouss) February 17, 2017
Point being, spend less time worrying about being weird and more time worrying about being kind.
Said by every famous writer. Every. Single. One. Get the words out. #amwriting pic.twitter.com/R6vrVGdUQb
— Sharon Coleman (@sjcwriter) May 15, 2017
As I said on Twitter, if you’re like me, so is the second draft, the third draft, the fourth draft…
What’s on now?
All right, let’s let good ol’ Van take us home with these final tweets!
Whatever you’re meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible.
DORIS LESSING#amwriting #writerslife pic.twitter.com/6CHHnzwfRS— Novelicious (@noveliciouss) May 24, 2017
There is never the right time. Never. Did I stutter? NEVER. There is never a moment when you’ll say, “This is perfect. I have nothing else to do or be or see.” It won’t happen. Don’t let there be a memory of What If in your future.
Sing like no body's listening.
Dance like no body's watching.
Write…Just write.#amwriting #writerslife #mondaymotivation pic.twitter.com/Mn8U7HEcdS— Emma Rose Hollands (@ERHollands) May 23, 2017
Thank you @ERHollands. Write. Just write. It’s that simple.
Wait, no I was wrong. It can be simpler.
"Write the Damn Book!" – Mark David Gerson #writingtips #amwriting #writerslife pic.twitter.com/l2QXUK42J6
— Soluma Productions (@SolumaProd) May 23, 2017
There it is! Just write the damn book. No more excuses. Let’s go!
Happy writing, friends! Be kind. Have a good weekend.
Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
Find more writing and publishing tips at Nothing Any Good.
Incredibly inspiring, as always, Dan! Thank you! I’ve been struggling recently with my muse (probably stress dragging me down), and I really needed this boost! 🙂
I have found that when I struggle the most is when I need to slow down the most. Without fail they always come hand-in-hand. Stopping to breathe, meditate, pray, walk, relax, break is always in order when I have found I’ve lost my way and my muse has vanished. It’s usually because I’m doing a poor job of listening and pressing too much.
You’re right! I know it’s time for a much needed break. But at least I managed to get a book outline done yesterday. 😉