Nothing to do all day and night but write, quote by John Fante

“The good days, the fat days, page upon page of manuscript; prosperous days, something to say…the pages mounted and I was happy. Fabulous days, the rent paid, still fifty dollars in my wallet, nothing to do all day and night but write and think of writing; ah, such sweet days, to see it grow, to worry for it, myself, my book, my words, maybe important, maybe timeless, but mine nevertheless, the indomitable Arturo Bandini, already deep into his first novel. “

From Chapter Sixteen of Ask the Dust a novel by John Fante, originally published in 1939.

Believe in Magic, quote by Roald Dahl with painting by René Magritte

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

ROALD DAHL

Painting: “The False Mirror” (1928) by René Magritte

Drama, comedy, and tragedy, quote by Mark Twain

There was never yet an uninteresting life. Such a thing is an impossibility. Inside of the dullest exterior there is a drama, a comedy, and a tragedy.”

 MARK TWAIN

Photo: Mark Twain and a cat friend. Twain enjoyed the company of cats and was often surrounded by his feline friends while writing.

Happiness, quote by John Lennon

When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” JOHN LENNON

Art: Jef Aérosol

Photo: Bixentro

11/7 Musings: Hemingway and Luck

“For a long time now I have tried simply to write the best I can. Sometimes I have good luck and write better than I can.” ERNEST HEMINGWAY

Cartoon: Harley L. Schwadron, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

What matters most, quote by Charles Bukowski

What matters most is how well you walk through the fire.” CHARLES BUKOWSKI

This portrait of Charles Bukowski by Dana Laina (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)  is featured in the Silver Birch Press Bukowski Anthology, a collection of poetry & prose about Charles Bukowski as well as portraits of the author from over 75 writers and artists around the world.

Nothing to do all day and night but write, quote by John Fante

The good days, the fat days, page upon page of manuscript; prosperous days, something to say…the pages mounted and I was happy. Fabulous days, the rent paid, still fifty dollars in my wallet, nothing to do all day and night but write and think of writing; ah, such sweet days, to see it grow, to worry for it, myself, my book, my words, maybe important, maybe timeless, but mine nevertheless, the indomitable Arturo Bandini, already deep into his first novel. “

From Chapter Sixteen of Ask the Dust a novel by John Fante, originally published in 1939.

Photo: Vintage notecard found on Flickr.

Magic in story writing, quote by John Steinbeck

“If there is a magic in story writing, and I am convinced there is, no one has ever been able to reduce it to a recipe that can be passed from one person to another. The formula seems to lie solely in the aching urge of the writer to convey something he feels important to the reader. If the writer has that urge, he may sometimes, but by no means always, find the way to do it. You must perceive the excellence that makes a good story good or the errors that makes a bad story. For a bad story is only an ineffective story.” JOHN STEINBECK

Illustration by Lucky Bat Poet (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED). Find more work here. 

The world is full of magic things, quote by William Butler Yeats

 

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”  

WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

ILLUSTRATION: “Butterfly Mask” by Bob Coonts, prints available at fineartamerica.com.

Believe in Magic, quote by Roald Dahl with painting by Rene Magritte

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

ROALD DAHL

Painting: “The False Mirror” (1928) by Rene Magritte