16 Comments
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K.G. McAbee's avatar

YES! What it comes down for me is, so I want people to say after I'm dead: 'She kept a clean house'? Or do I want them to say: 'Damn, that creative woman wrote a lot of books!' Take a guess...

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JL Tooker's avatar

You are creative!!

What I want people to say after I have passed on is: "Thank you for having shared."

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Joshua Robinson's avatar

You have such curiosity and you follow it, and in the end that's what matters, I think. Whether the books get done or not (and I hope they do, because I want to read them!), you've invented a freaking language and shared so much with us here. You've inspired and moved me with your words. You're not just a writer, you're a damned fine one.

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JL Tooker's avatar

And you're a damned fine friend. Thank you, Joshua.

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Charlotte Henley Babb's avatar

The best advice for writing is "DO IT NOW". Dishes wiil be here tomorrow.

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JL Tooker's avatar

How many tomorrows will the dishes be there? The bottom line is that writing is almost always a luxury ... almost.

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Charlotte Henley Babb's avatar

All of them. Dishes and laundry will always be there for you. Stalking you.

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Deleyna Marr's avatar

For me, is has been the Spaceport series. I've put it off so many times for more "important" work. I'm trying to move it forward, finally.

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JL Tooker's avatar

Deleyna, good for you! Spaceport ho!

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Dr. Diana Stout's avatar

How sad your mother did that to you when weight has absolutely nothing to do with writing...or any skill, for that matter. I had the same mentality of work and chores before writing until I realized that chores are endless. I discovered that if I did a little writing every day, the chores went much faster, and I got far more done than I could have imagined! It was magical how it happened. Therefore, I challenge you and any writer: create a daily writing habit and see if that magic doesn't happen. Amazingly, it will.

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JL Tooker's avatar

Dr. Diana, your words are thoughtful and true. You honor me with your wisdom ... again! :-)

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Charlotte Henley Babb's avatar

We all carry some weight of our mothers' expectations , good or bad. No matter how they meant it.

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JL Tooker's avatar

Indeed we do. My mother meant well; she just didn't know any better.

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Charlotte Henley Babb's avatar

True. Most of our mothers had little nurturing mothering.

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Alegria de Rose's avatar

I completely relate to that sense of responsibility. I’m so grateful for the time now. I love what you wrote here, “But I’ve made peace with endings. A finished thing isn’t a tombstone; it’s a milestone.”

Indeed, life is short. Eat the dessert. What a wise man your father is.

Lovely post JL.

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JL Tooker's avatar

Alegria, thank you for such kind words. I hope you enjoy dessert frequently -- no matter the form that dessert comes in. And yes, my father was a very wise man.

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