Great words on writing from Eat, Pray, Love author

CynV · Apr 3, 2010

I went to check Elizabeth Gilbert's official site in lieu of the upcoming feature film release of Eat, Pray, Love. To be honest I'd heard of the book but didn't understand why it was popular enough to spawn a movie with "America's sweetheart" Julia Roberts.

What I found on the website were Gilbert's words on writing. They are some of the best words written on the craft of writing. I invite you to check it out especially if you're struggling with a book right now:

http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/writing.htm

aruna · Apr 4, 2010

I liked this sentence best:

This is a path for the courageous and the faithful. You must find another reason to work, other than the desire for success or recognition. It must come from another place.

And I love her background colour! Think I'll steal it for my own website!
I have a lot to thank Gilbert for... I recently read Eat Pray Love, didn't like it much, but it inspired me to get to work on something new.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 4, 2010

That kind of talk always makes me want to gag.

Exir · Apr 4, 2010

Elaborate?

PortableHal · Apr 4, 2010

A nice post and thanks for the link. There's good advice here but I wonder if E. Gilbert would have provided the same words of wisdom if she wasn't coming off of a huge bestseller that had made her rich.

I still prefer Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird when I'm seeking inspiration.

scarletpeaches · Apr 4, 2010

Jamesaritchie said:
That kind of talk always makes me want to gag.

You really need to stop saying things I agree with.

I write because it's fun and it's what I'm good at, yes, but I refused to be ashamed of saying I want to pay the rent with my books as well.

And damn right I want recognition for it.

Millicent M'Lady · Apr 4, 2010

I was reading through that and I thought she clouded a nice point with this:

Magazines, editors, agents – they all employ young people making $22,000 a year whose job it is to read through piles of manuscripts and send you back letters telling you that you aren’t good enough yet: LET THEM DO IT. Don’t pre-reject yourself. That’s their job, not yours. Your job is only to write your heart out, and let destiny take care of the rest.

Why is it necessary to imply that a low-paid worker is the one reading your work? Just seems kind of patronising. Maybe I'm being a bit overly sensitive this evening...

aruna · Apr 4, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
You really need to stop saying things I agree with.

I write because it's fun and it's what I'm good at, yes, but I refused to be ashamed of saying I want to pay the rent with my books as well.

And damn right I want recognition for it.

Oh, I'm certainly not ashamed of saying I want to pay the rent from my writing, and much more than that! I've nothing at all against earning money from writing; in fact, let it roll in, I've got some very good uses for it!

As for recognition -- meh. I would write anonymously if need be. It's not important.

I'm not sure if it was Gilbert's article that makes JAR -- and you! -- want to gag, or my post following it. Doesn't matter much anyway, though I find it kind of weird. What exactly is gagworthy about either? :Shrug:

I'm with Exir: Elaborate, please!

scarletpeaches · Apr 4, 2010

I assumed it was the original comment too aruna!

Gag? At your posts? Pfft. As if anyone would dare!

aruna · Apr 4, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
I assumed it was the original comment too aruna!

Gag? At your posts? Pfft. As if anyone would dare!

wheew! I'm relieved! I was getting worried there!

scarletpeaches · Apr 5, 2010

And just in case anyone wonders, as someone who has a reputation for sarcasm, I wish to make it clear the above was a sincere post.

Which in itself probably sounds sarcastic.

So I'll shut up now and get back to work.

aruna · Apr 5, 2010

BTW I agree with you and whis comment:

E. Gilbert would have provided the same words of wisdom if she wasn't coming off of a huge bestseller that had made her rich.

It's easy to be blase about the perks of writing when you've got Oprah rooting for you, and when this whole journey of spirituality and self-discovery was financed by a $200000 advance, and a signed book contract. All the reviews keep saying how brave she was but what's brave about that? It all read so contrived.I made a much bigger, longer, better journey on practically NOTHING. So yes, parts of the book did make me want to gag. (or maybe I'm just jealous.)

scarletpeaches · Apr 5, 2010

Have you ever heard that saying, "Jump and the net will appear?"

From what I see in this thread, Ms Gilbert didn't have to worry about jumping; she had a net before she even leapt.

aruna · Apr 5, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
Have you ever heard that saying, "Jump and the net will appear?"

From what I see in this thread, Ms Gilbert didn't have to worry about jumping; she had a net before she even leapt.

Exactly!!!!!!! Excellent!

Phaeal · Apr 5, 2010

PortableHal said:
I still prefer Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird when I'm seeking inspiration.

Triple word. Just a smidgen of wisdom therefrom:

Writing is like learning to pay attention and to communicate what is going on. Now, if you ask me, what's going on is that we're all up to HERE in it, and probably the most important thing is that we not yell at one another. Otherwise we'd all just be barking away like Pekinese: "Ah! Stuck in the shit! And it's YOUR fault, YOU did this..."

This pulls me out of the shit every time.

scarletpeaches · Apr 5, 2010

Ugh. I can't stand Bird by Bird. A more self-indulgent, narcissistic book of "Look at me!" mental masturbation I have yet to read.

aadams73 · Apr 6, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
Ugh. I can't stand Bird by Bird. A more self-indulgent, narcissistic book of "Look at me!" mental masturbation I have yet to read.

I'm about to go and donate a bunch of old books, but my copy of Bird by Bird is going in the trash--that's how little I think of it.

As for the OP: sorry, but Gilbert's advice is too Oprah-ish for me. It's just one step short of "visualize it and it will appear." And that's just not realistic, practical advice. But if it works for you and you get the job done, great! We all take different roads to get there.

Phaeal · Apr 6, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
Ugh. I can't stand Bird by Bird. A more self-indulgent, narcissistic book of "Look at me!" mental masturbation I have yet to read.

You know, SP, if you hold back so much, you're going to explode.

Phaeal · Apr 6, 2010

aadams73 said:
I'm about to go and donate a bunch of old books, but my copy of Bird by Bird is going in the trash--that's how little I think of it.

Send it to me. People are always trying to borrow mine, so I need a spare.

Since I lent out my favorite scribbled-over Moby Dick and it never came back, I only lend spares. Dern booksnatchers.

CaroGirl · Apr 6, 2010

This is exactly like her books. Some of it is great and some is full of choking crapitude.

willietheshakes · Apr 6, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
Ugh. I can't stand Bird by Bird. A more self-indulgent, narcissistic book of "Look at me!" mental masturbation I have yet to read.

Haven't read Writing Down the Bones, then, eh?

aadams73 · Apr 6, 2010

Phaeal said:
Send it to me. People are always trying to borrow mine, so I need a spare.

If you really want it, it's all yours.

Phaeal · Apr 6, 2010

CaroGirl said:
This is exactly like her books. Some of it is great and some is full of choking crapitude.

Which proves her point that we're all up to our necks in it, doesn't it? Oops, the Pekinese are barking. 'Scuse me while I open the door and let them out.

Bubastes · Apr 6, 2010

willietheshakes said:
Haven't read Writing Down the Bones, then, eh?

Oh, ugh, I hated that one with a passion. I don't know why so many people recommend it as a writing book. I got nothing out of it.

scarletpeaches · Apr 6, 2010

willietheshakes said:
Haven't read Writing Down the Bones, then, eh?

Thanks for reminding me of that self-indulgent, navel-gazing cranio-anal impacted shite, buster.

No, really. Thanks. You utter bastard.

Great words on writing from Eat, Pray, Love author

The Original Cyn

On a wing and a prayer

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking

Not-so-new

Exploring the infinite abyss

On a wing and a prayer

On a wing and a prayer

On a wing and a prayer

On a wing and a prayer

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

A Work in Progress

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Living the dream

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

A Work in Progress

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

bananaed