Two Minds

A quote from a book I’m beta reading struck me with particular force.

“Of all the conflicts of the world, nothing can surpass the conflict between two minds wanting sole possession of the same body.”

Lady Glamis, struggling with some of the same issues I am in rewrites, said, “I have a feeling that the fabric full of holes might be heavier than I think.”

“Write what you know,” we are told, as writers. “I’m sick of that phrase,” she said. Me too. As if we need only to know a thing, and then expressing it will be easy. Ha.

We don’t write to express ourselves. We write to know ourselves.

(Art by thadeoradicarlous.)

Are You Dancing Or Just Swaying Back and Forth?

Some of you may have already seen one of these links on Janet Reid’s blog. More inspiration from Britain’s Got Talent.

It made wonder. How can you tell if you should keep holding onto a creative dream? Here are two people who are well into their lives — one 49 one 60 — who haven’t given up.

But how do you know if the world is crazy for overlooking you or if you are crazy to keep trying?

How do you know if you’re dancing or just swaying back and forth?

* * *

Here’s what Paul Potts, another Britain’s Got Talent discovery had to say:

“I feel like I’m living on gifted time as an artist. You don’t own the time, it is given to you by your fans and public who buy your music and support you. For that I will never stop being grateful and I appreciate the journey I am on even more. In life you sometimes take a turn you weren’t expecting, you don’t know where it leads but you have to take that path. This is what happened with me and Britain’s Got Talent. I still don’t know where this wonderful journey is headed but I certainly appreciate every moment of it.

And if you think suceeding once stills the questions and self-doubt, think again. “The second album is always a challenge, when your first is such a success you cannot be complacent and believe the second will do the same. There is more pressure, you have to work harder, be bigger, better, this is the same for every artist.”