In my recent newsletter, I talked about one of my many favorite parts of Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert.
At the beginning of part 1, titled “Courage,” Elizabeth recounts the story of Jack Gilbert who was a poet. After publishing brilliant work, he would disappear from the limelight – once for 20 years after his first work was published and after his second book of poetry was released, he disappeared for 10 years.
After his second disappearing act, he came back to teach a Creative Writing class at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Here’s the part that went right into my heart and soul:
He complimented a student on her work then asked what she wanted to do with her life.
When she confessed that she wanted to be a writer, he asked, “Do you have the courage? Do you have the courage to bring forth this work? The treasures that are hidden inside you are hoping you will say yes.”
“The treasures hidden inside of you are hoping you will say yes.”
<gulp>
Here’s a phone screensaver if you want a reminder: (Just press and hold on your phone to save it. Or if you’re on the computer, right-click to save then email it to yourself to have as a phone screensaver)
To see other screensavers on the blog, click here.
