Life with most teenagers was like having a low-grade bladder infection. It hurts, but you had to tough it out.
Anne LamottRead
You are going to have to give and give and give, or there's no reason for you to be writing. You have to give from the deepest part of yourself, and you are going to have to go on giving, and the giving is going to have to be its own reward. There is no cosmic importance to your getting something published, but there is in learning to be a giver.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the necessity of selflessness in writing and creativity, suggesting that true value lies in the act of giving rather than seeking personal gain.
Anne Lamott's quote reflects the essence of what it means to be a creator and artist. It underscores the importance of offering oneself authentically and generously in the writing process, implying that the satisfaction and significance of creating comes from the act of giving rather than from external accolades such as publication. Writing, according to Lamott, should focus on the intrinsic rewards of sharing one's thoughts and experiences rather than the external validation one might seek.
Themes
WritingGivingCreativitySelflessnessReward
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used as part of a motivational speech to aspiring writers at a literary festival.
More from Anne Lamott
All quotes →Or you might shout at the top of your lungs or whisper into your sleeve, "I hate you, God." That is a prayer too, because it is real, it is truth, and maybe it is the first sincere thought you've had in months.
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Your problem is how you are going to spend this one odd and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over people and circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.
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It is hard to remember that you are a cherished spiritual being when you're burping up apple fritters and Cheetos.
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Gorgeous, amazing things come into our lives when we are paying attention: mangoes, grandnieces, Bach, ponds. This happens more often when we have as little expectation as possible. If you say, "Well, that's pretty much what I thought I'd see," you are in trouble. At that point you have to ask yourself why you are even here. [...] Astonishing material and revelation appear in our lives all the time. Let it be. Unto us, so much is given. We just have to be open for business.
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...because when people have seen you at their worst, you don't have to put on the mask as much.
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Roger ScrutonRead