Monday, January 28, 2013

Motivational Monday


THE GOOD WRITING OF ANY AGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE
PRODUCT OF SOMEONE'S NEUROSIS, AND WE'D HAVE A
MIGHTY DULL LITERATURE IF ALL THE WRITERS
THAT CAME ALONG WERE A BUNCH OF HAPPY CHUCKLEHEADS
(William Styron)

I don't know about the rest of you, but I tend to see the world just a little differently than most people I know. I find the dark corner in a bright room. I see the suspicious in the (seemingly, allegedly) innocent. I read a news story and try to see it from the "bad guy's" perspective. I often ask, and keep asking, why when most "normal" people have stopped. 

In a previous post, I mentioned a talk Stephen King gave at UMass Lowell. One of my favorite parts is when he talks about how the idea for Cujo, one his scariest novels (at least, in my opinion!) came about...

He starts talking about Cujo about 14 minutes in so go ahead 
slide the marker to the 14 minute mark if you're pressed for time.

Most people would've just gotten the bike fixed and gotten out of there with a story to tell at the next neighborhood barbecue. But not Mr. King. He starts wondering. He starts asking "What if...?"

It's that question that separates the "happy chuckleheads" from the true writers and artists of the world. Let's all keep wondering, keep asking, keep telling the stories that are waiting to be told, that only we can tell. 

8 comments:

  1. I wouldn't have hung around Buster any longer either.

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  2. Yes I do think this is where the seperation occurs...the truly gifted writers see things from an entirely different prism.

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  3. OE - I think it's true of most artists and creative types.

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  4. I love the word chuckleheads. Now I want to start using it LOL.

    King's imagination is amazing to me. I have always wondered how on earth he came up with some of his ideas. Interesting story!

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  5. Julie - the word "chuckleheads" always makes me laugh. :)

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  6. what if is how to break a block... go nuts with what if!

    chuckleheads, ha!

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  7. Tara - so true! Ask "What if...? enough times and you'll tunnel a way through that block.

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