1.
If you talk to me in real life for longer than a few minutes, and the subject of Harry Potter comes up--and it inevitably will--I will make no bones about admiring this woman. She's an inspiration to me. And, of all the quotes that come from her--and not the books--that I think of most often, it's this one. She's speaking about how she was a single mother, on welfare, in government issued housing, when she began writing the first Potter book. Most people would give up. Most people would make excuses. "I can't write a book; I've got to get my life together." She made writing a book part of getting her life together. So, if you feel like you've hit rock bottom... build a house.
2.
I won't lie. I first heard this quote in the context of an episode of Criminal Minds. But it stuck. I had never thought of it this way. You tell a kid something magical and mythical like a dragon is real, and they might mutter "wow" but ultimately they just accept it. So, if you don't have to provide proof, why do we need fairy tales? This quote reminds me to look at things from more than one angle. As a lover and writer of fantastical things, it also helps to remind me that there's more than just putting fantastic things in my works to make it a good story.
3.
Okay, so, yes, this quote comes from a Let's Player while in the middle of playing a glitching Sonic game. And also, yes, it's immediately followed by him screaming "Not fu*king this!" But this is just good life advice. I have been in situations where the people around me are just so wound tight and freaking out about things that are, usually, out of their control. Sometimes, you just have to reassess, and I think of these words a lot when I'm doing just that.
4.
This quote is found inside the second book of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, called The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. When I read this section, I had to pause and read it again. No truer words have ever been written. A friendly reminder to side-eye anyone who is just so gung-ho wanting to be the leader. People, indeed, are a problem.
5.
My favorite Seuss quote from The Lorax. I think a lot of people are forgetting this. Do you have to care about every little thing? No, you're only human with a limited capacity. But we should all care about something. Find a passion and stick with it. And then make sure that that passion is a little better when you leave it than when you found it.
6.
I saved my favorite quote for last. This quote was paraphrased to me by my best friend when we were both talking about taking risks and putting our writing out into the world--beginning the trying to get published part of our careers. You see, I'm an anxious person. I have many fears. Many, many, many fears. One of the biggest ones I have is failure. I always had to succeed, growing up. After all, if you fail, you're a loser, right? Wrong! All that failure proves is that you tried. And trying is paramount. It's the only way to succeed. I think about this quote just about every day. I'm not joking. Every single day. Every time I sit down to edit my novel. When I submitted it to the open door call last year. When I eventually send it to an agent. Every time I have to put it out into the world I whisper the words "permission to fail." It's become my mantra. Because it's okay. As long as I keep trying, I have that permission.
Those are the quotes that inspire me the most. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a novel--or two and a novella--to edit and an agent to find.
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