“The first draft is just telling yourself the story.”—Terry Pratchett
Tag Archives: Writers
The Splendiferously Bearded Writers Social Club: William Morris
- NAME: WILLIAM MORRIS
- D/O/B: 3/24/1834
- MEMBER SINCE: 1870
- STATUS: CHARTER MEMBER
- IMPORTANT ROLE: CONSULTING DESIGNER
- HOBBIES: POETRY; PAINTING; SOCIALISM

William Morris (circa 1887) by Frederick Hollyer
Louise Brooks on Learning to Write
“For two extraordinary years, I have been working on it–learning to write– but mostly learning how to tell the truth. At first it is quite impossible. You make yourself better than anybody, and when you finally come to see you are “like” everybody– that is the bitterest blow of all to the ego. But in the end it is only the truth, no matter how ugly or shameful, that is right, that fits together, that makes real people, and strangely enough– beauty…”–Louise Brooks

Louise Brooks, circa 1929
The extraordinarily gifted and intelligent Louise Brooks– dancer, actor, and writer–was born on 14 November 1906. May she never be forgotten.
Robert Louis Stevenson on Two Books
Robert Louis Stevenson was born on this day in 1850.

Robert Louis Stevenson by Count Girolamo Nerli (1892). Scottish National Gallery.
“I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.”–Robert Louis Stevenson
I Dig This Photo of an Introspective Alma Mahler
Introspective but firm, that is…

Alma Mahler, circa 1902
Louis L’Amour on Flowing Water
“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”-Louis L’Amour
Virginia Woolf on Adventuring
“I will not be “famous,” “great.” I will go on adventuring, changing, opening my mind and my eyes, refusing to be stamped and stereotyped. The thing is to free one’s self: to let it find its dimensions, not be impeded.”–Virginia Woolf
Sorry for My Absence! Please Accept This Photo of Maeve Brennan as an Apology!
Hi all! My apologies for the lack of recent posts. We moved into a new apartment two weeks ago, and have been working overtime to settle into the new place. Everything should be back to normal on the blog very soon.
Until then, enjoy this photo of the late Irish writer Maeve Brennan.

Maeve Brennan
Daily Diversion #384: Another New Book (I Know, I Know)
We’re a week away from moving into a larger apartment in our complex. Probably not a great time to add to my library. Oh, well! What’s done is done, right?
-

The Dud Avocado
Arthur Miller on the Best Work
“The best work that anybody ever writes is the work that is on the verge of embarrassing him, always.”–Arthur Miller