Happy Friday once again! As anyone reading the blog here or on Facebook has figured out, I am currently writing a book about Eleanor of Aquitaine. I am super excited about it, but also deathly terrified. Not of criticism or critique, but that I will not be able to do my heroine justice. She is one of the most utterly fascinating women who we know so little about. So, when I was having one of my random mini freak-outs, my pastor suggested I read this one...
Not going to lie, at times it was kind of pretentious. And it seemed more geared toward what you think of as typical 'art', painting, sculpting, etc. But, I still found value and it was a gentle reminder to keep going and to push through the fear and write my book. Here is the first line:
"Making art is difficult."
You can say that again!
Just for fun, I want to also share the final paragraph of the book, because it above all else really put things in perspective for me, in such a simple way that it should have been obvious without me needing to be told it.
"In the end it all comes down to this: you have a choice (or more accurately a rolling tangle of choices) between giving your work your best shot and risking that it will not make you happy, or not giving it your best shot - and thereby guaranteeing that it will not make you happy. it becomes a choice between certainty and uncertainty. And curiously, uncertainty is the comforting choice."
Leave a comment below about my line or feel free to share one of your own. Then take a look at what my fellow First-Liners have for you this week.
Bree - Bibliophile Reviews
Rachel - Bookworm Mama
Heather - Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen
Beth - Faithfully Bookish
Katie - Fiction Aficionado
Lauraine - Lauraine's Notes
Andi - Radiant Light
Carrie - Reading is my SuperPower
Robin - Robin's Nest
Sydney - Singing Librarian
Kathleen - Kathleen Denly
Amanda - With a Joyful Noise
Jessica - A Baker's Perspective
Happy Reading!
Sarah
I certainly wish you luck with your writing project! I used to write years back and I would get anxious about whether it was any good or not. Sadly I never followed any of it through and I haven't written in ten years now...too busy reading!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I am so nervous, because I want to make sure that I give her as much life as possible, given what we do and do not know. I was so lucky to have a teacher in sixth grade who recognized my love of writing and constantly pushed me to keep writing and to get better and better. I hope I do not disappoint him!
DeleteIt is definitely hard to find reading AND writing time, and those are secondary to my rambunctious almost-four year old!
Your writing tools are great to me. I really enjoyed this one😀
ReplyDeleteThank you Bree! It really was kind of the kick in the butt that I needed. I am at the point in the first chapter now where I am starting an in-depth look at Eleanor and I was terrified of not doing her justice. But the book and one of my pastor's were incredibly helpful. This book itself is also pretty short, just a little over 100 pages.
DeleteMy first line comes from A Heart So True by Dorothy Love. This is the first story in Among The Fair Magnolias collection.
ReplyDeletePawleys Island, South Carolina
May 1860
HAD WADE BENNETT TRULY FORGIVEN HER?
Hey Caryl, thank you for coming by again. I enjoy the lines you share each week, have a wonderful weekend!
DeleteI married into a family of wonderful artists. My mother-in-law was called the "Norman Rockwell of North Kansas City". Loved her art! It hangs in every room in our house.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I read Pepper Basham’s book Just the Way You Are ~sigh~ It’s so good that I will read it again soon. My first line:
“One step into the massive, glass-walled waiting area was all it took.”
That is so cool. And to be compared to Norman Rockwell, that is no easy feat! I want my daughter to grow up surrounded by art in all mediums, so especially during the summer when school is out, we go weekly to different museums and gardens and such. She is going to be four in July, so I hope these experiences are providing a good foundation for her to appreciate all kinds of art.
DeleteI hear quite a lot about Pepper Basham, I think one of these days I am going to have to read one of her books.
To celebrate its release day, I will share the first line from
ReplyDeleteThe Patriot and The Loyalist by Angela K. Couch
South Carolina, November 1780
Daniel Reid slowed his horse and sucked air into his lungs as he reined to the road’s grassy edge.
Hey Andrea, thank you for sharing your line with me this week, I am glad you stopped by. I have heard a bit about this book from others as well, hope you enjoyed it. Happy Friday!
DeleteIn reality, it is better to go for it and to do your best...you won't succeed unless you try. You learn by trial and error...if at first you don't succeed try, try, again. :) It's awful to always wonder what might have been. Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteOh I know, I just have never been this close to having it be possible before, so sometimes it gets very intimidating. I want to tell her story right. Happy Friday - and now Saturday! :)
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