16 Comments
User's avatar
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...

JL Tooker's avatar

You are creative!!

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

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.

JL Tooker's avatar

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

Charlotte Henley Babb's avatar

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

JL Tooker's avatar

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

Charlotte Henley Babb's avatar

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

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.

JL Tooker's avatar

Deleyna, good for you! Spaceport ho!

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.

JL Tooker's avatar

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

Charlotte Henley Babb's avatar

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

JL Tooker's avatar

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

Charlotte Henley Babb's avatar

True. Most of our mothers had little nurturing mothering.

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.

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.