Purpose

There are multiple purposes for this blog. First, I'd like to share with you how mental illness can interfere with or enhance the writer's life. Second, I want to explore a more disciplined approach to the writing life. This blog will hold me accountable as I navigate story throughout my battle with mental illness.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

2 Motivating Posts I Found Today

I discovered a few great posts today using google reader that I’d like to share with you.

The first post is a guest post on Inkygirl.com entitled Want To Write? 18 Great Writers & Thinkers Show You How (Guest Post: Julie Duffy). In the post she gently guides us in the endeavor to write using 18 quotes from great writers. 

My favorite was this one by Andre Gide:  “Art begins with resistance - at the point where resistance is overcome. No human masterpiece has ever been created without great labor.”

As a writer with OCD and ADD, this is perhaps my greatest concern for my own writing. I know it can be difficult for any writer, even seasoned authors.

Another point she makes “Procrastination is exhausting…mentally if your favorite sport is ‘beating myself up about not writing’”.  Then she states that if your writing is “work worth doing” then it is “important for your quality of life and your mental health”.




Julie Fast has authored both traditional books and e-books, mostly about living with bi-polar disorder and depression. This book in particular is essentially about how to get things done when you are depressed. I haven’t read it yet, but I did just order it through Amazon. I will post a review once I have read it. What I ascertain from the interview is that it is not solely about depression and writing, but there is some material covered in it. That was my impetus for purchasing the book.

She says that the book essentially tells that you can’t let depression keep you down, otherwise nothing will ever get done, including writing. I know, easier said than done. But, there is hope. After all, she claims to be depressed 75% of the time, so you have to be extra vigilante to get things done. I haven’t put a figure in how often I’m depressed, but I would wager that it is near that mark. Actually, with what I’m going through now, I’m surprised that I can even write this post. Thank goodness for all the quotes I was able to use! LOL!

Julie goes on to say, “What’s amazing is that I can’t tell the difference between my writing when I’m depressed and my writing when I am well. Now, the process is horrible. The difference between what you’re doing when you are depressed versus when you’re well feels terrible, but the outcome — you can’t tell the difference.”

As a perfectionist, that statement is very encouraging. She admits that even though we may not feel like working, we do have the ability to get it done.  And once you are able to get some writing done, you will reap the satisfaction of having done something. Writing is in itself, its own reward. 

The interview article really is a fascinating read, and well worth anyone’s time. And that can be said for both articles.

5 comments:

  1. Isn't the renegade writer great? I saw that post but I didn't get a chance to read it. I'll have to give it a second look. Thanks for sharing these posts!

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  2. Hi Ollin,

    It's my pleasure to share. There is so much great content out there for writers. Thanks for visiting.

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  3. I enjoyed this post and I think Julie's right. You can't tell the difference. You said, "Actually, with what I’m going through now, I’m surprised that I can even write this post" but I could not tell from your writing that you were struggling with depression while writing this. I found the tone of your writing very soothing and reassuring. I'm glad you wrote this.

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  4. Thank you very much, Milli. I'm pleased you found some use in it.

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  5. Thanks for these inspirational posts. I'm trying to pull together posts for the Blogathon, and Julie's post was very helpful.

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