Octavia Butler on Persistence in Writing: Quote, Prompts & More to Inspire You

How persistent are you with your writing?

Quote and Reflections:

“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.”

Octavia Butler

I’ve been doing this “writing thing” professionally for more than a decade and I must confess, some of my earlier work embarrasses me. Some of it isn’t bad at all but some of it is downright painful.

And to think I was so proud of it!

I have to smile at my long-ago-sweet-self. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with naivete, after all.

More important is to continue to get better. To consistently improve and develop as a writer.

Questions:

What do you remember of your writing from long ago?

What writing and/or creative projects make you feel the most satisfied? What makes them so satisfying?

Bonus: What can you do to create more satisfaction in your writing and other creative projects?

Lists:

Make a list of 3 - 5 old writing projects you would like to take out and revise as the writer you have become.

Make a list of 3 - 5 writing topics you would enjoy exploring now that you have developed as a writer (or) you would like to develop as a writer in the future.

Conventional Writing Prompts:

I am most persistent when I…

My relationship with the word “persistence” via my writing is sort

Why be inspired by literary grannies? Read the introductory post here -

This series (now a part of the Ultimate Blog Challenge) is also serving as a bridge to my new blog which will be unveiled in the middle of the month. In past blog challenges I have offered prompts under the "Let Your Words Flow" name. The Inspiration from Literary Grannies serve as a subset of that series.

I welcome your comments, your questions and your quote contributions. Please share the prompts with your writing buddies and friends!

In fact, as you read books written by women in 2015, take note of inspiring quotes. I would love to add them to my collection and may even write a prompt from them.

This is blog post 16/31 in the Ultimate Blog Challenge. Visit the other blog posts and enjoy!

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Julie Jordan Scott is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy and mixed-media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people's creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming Winter 2015 and beyond.

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