Creative Inspirations #3: Sentences are Difficult to Write
Posted on: 16 November 2008
Inspirational quotations and uplifting photographs to reawaken your inner playfulness and creativity.
Difficult Sentences
‘Writing sentences is difficult whatever their subject. It is no less difficult to write sentences in a recipe than sentences in Moby-Dick. So you might as well write Moby-Dick.’ - Annie Dillard
Reflections
Writing a sentence that expresses exactly what is on your soul, and does so beautifully and effortlessly, is an extremely difficult enterprise. In fact, writing any sentence that articulates precisely what you’re wanting to say is a challenge.
Sentences are the building blocks of the writer’s trade. A bricklayer building a strong and elegant structure needs a transfusion of raw talent (steady hand, level eye) and dedicated learning (how to mix cement, which bricks to use where). Writing’s no different. Talent is some of it. But mostly you need the devoted, unswerving tenacity of a terrier chasing down rabbit holes.
What are the bricks of your creative talent? Are you building a wall for security, a home to live in, or a sacred structure to nourish the life of all who enter it?
Do you use and stretch your natural talents to their outer limits? Are you ever tempted to settle for putting together recipes when you could be writing Moby-Dick?
2 Responses to "Creative Inspirations #3: Sentences are Difficult to Write"
[...] Annie Dillard. "Writing sentences is difficult whatever their subject. It is no less difficult to write sentences in a recipe than sentences in Moby Dick. So you might as well write Moby Dick." No matter what, write. [...]
17 November 2008 at 6:20 am
I write to “slip into sacred space”. See The Joy of Being a Blockhead: http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/08/11/the-joy-of-being-a-blockhead/
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monk’s last blog post..please update commentluv plugin