Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
Whenever I get down to the bare bones of fiction writing, I also get to reading; I absolutely crave and find inspiration in others’ words. I’ve mentioned before that Virginia Woolf always lifts my writing spirits, but recently I re-picked up Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury for some advice on the craft.
I have been reading this collection of essays by Bradbury, one of America’s greatest contemporary authors, on and off for a couple years–whenever I need a writing lift, in fact. I’m not much of a science fiction or fantasy reader, but following Bradbury’s creative process is a privilege and also a joy.
Bradbury is hilarious with a dry sense of humor, which I love. He’s also one of those old school writers who worked his way up from sending off short stories to magazines and crossing his fingers, often getting rejections in return. There’s something so real and admirable about that, I simply must respect his war stories and the lessons he’s learned.
And then, of course, there are his words. Here are some of my favorite lines on writing:
“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.”
“We never sit anything out.
We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled.
The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.”
“As soon as things get difficult, I walk away. That’s the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you. If you try to approach a cat and pick it up, hell, it won’t let you do it. You’ve got to say, ‘Well, to hell with you.’ And the cat says, ‘Wait a minute. He’s not behaving the way most humans do.’ Then the cat follows you out of curiosity: ‘Well, what’s wrong with you that you don’t love me?”
Well that’s what an idea is. See? You just say, ‘Well, hell, I don’t need depression. I don’t need worry. I don’t need to push.’ The ideas will follow me. When they’re off-guard, and ready to be born, I’ll turn around and grab them.”
If you don’t feel like creating something after these words, you might want to check your pulse.
Are there certain books that always give you a lift, whether they be writing-related or not?
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Can’t think of any books inspiring me these days as all I do, other than on the internet, is a little technical writing. You had a few great quotes above.
Hah, I know how you feel 😉
Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh is always inspirational along with the poetry of Pablo Neruda. Among lots and lots of others.
Gennaro @ Enduring Wanderlust’s last blog post..Groundhog Day In Punxsutawney: A Travel Guide
*Love* Neruda, haven’t even heard of the other. I’m on it! Grazie mille 🙂
Love the Bradbury quotes. They’re great!
one book that I always re-read for a smile every couple of years is The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino. There is something SO charming about it, especially in the first part of the book . . .also the Milgaro Beanfield War, by John Nichols. Hmmmm, mine seem to be not-so-much inspiring, but old favorites that can make me laugh. Also the short story The Nose by Nikolai Gogol. Somehow funnier if read aloud.
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I haven’t read that Calvino, but I *love* Marcovaldo..charming is a great word. Haven’t read any of the others you mentioned either…great suggestions, thanks 🙂
Funny you posting this today – once a year I reread William Zinnser’s On Writing Well, one of the finest guides to non-fiction writing around. Zinsser reminds me that I tend to be am bit baroque in my style and need extensive to edit. Its been my guide for the past 10 years and I’ve now gone through two copies of it.
For a light hearted read I always fall back on the E. F. Benson Mapp and Lucia stories – I love his characters and their little dramas of daily life in Tilling.
And then any of the John Julius Norwich books about Italy, Venice, Byzantium or the Mediterranean – history as it was never taught in school.
Willym’s last blog post..Il Ciclo di Mesi – Febbraio
Excellent! I’m physically writing these down so I don’t lose their names….
darn it didn’t take the tags I inclued when I posted it – very strange as they showed in the preview panel. So much for failed joke – I wrote it than edited it according to Zinnser. So that first bit shoud read:
Funny your posting this today – once a year I reread William Zinnser’s On Writing Well, one of the finest guides to non-fiction writing around. Zinners reminde me that I am baroque in my style and need to edit. Its ben my guide for the past 10 years and I’ve now gone through two copies.
Note to self: don’t try to be amusing before your first capucc….
Willym’s last blog post..Il Ciclo di Mesi – Febbraio
Hah, I definitely hear you on the cappuccino….
When I’m get stressed about screenwriting, I re-read William Goldman’s “Adventures in the Screentrade.”
From the book comes one of the most quoted lines about Hollywood, “Nobody knows anything.” In other words write what you want to write. No one can predict what will be a hit. Current example: Paul Bartt: Mall Cop. That movie which received scathing reviews, is a monster hit in the U.S.
There are quite a few books that inspire me. I need to read more fiction. I’ve been on a non-fiction kick lately.
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Ooh I’m so glad I asked…some great suggestions here! I go on nonfiction and fiction kicks too. Funny how that works.
I will have to say that almost everything I read inspires me one way or another. I am not a writer, but words inspire me to paint, draw, sketch. Talking about books, I have “Who by Fire” ready to send to the sisterhood, you tell me how you want to do this. Good luck with the Bloggies!
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Thanks Beatriz; I’m not actually sure where the Sisterhood is at right now, but we’ll figure it out….
I hadn’t heard of Ray Bradbury. Thanks for the recommendation. Looks like a good one to check out! I love Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird” and Natalie Goldberg’s “Writing Down the Bones”.
I’ve had both of those on my to-read list for ages and still haven’t gotten them. One day soon….
Excellent post. Virginia Woolf does it for me, too. But just about anyone whom I admire. For gorgeous English prose, sentence by sentence I find Shirley Hazzard hard to beat. Have reread Transit of Venus (also Bay of Noon, The Great Fire); also her short memoir on Graham Greene (Greene on Capri). Have you read? I thought of you when espying it on table the other day. Friends of mine sent it to me when published…from Italy. Which must have cost them a fortune considering how expensive books in English are there. They lived (still have a small apt.) in Massa Lubrense.
Anyway, thanks for the Bradbury quotes…your Nutella Day exhortations have been picked up by some more bloggers over here & hoping they vote in the bloggies today. Which reminds me: I’ll go remind them!
ciao-meow!
Susan & la gattina
PS: The ‘latest’ posts are way behind so I took out Waiting in Congo…I’m days ahead. Don’t know what’s up with that…have a great evening
My goodness, all these awesome book suggestions! I’m going to have an even huger Amazon wishlist….
Thanks for your reminders too 🙂
I love that third quote! And good luck in the Bloggies.
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Glad you enjoyed, and thanks so much 🙂
Well, there’s always that most inspiring of all books: the checkbook.
I love Bradbury. Having read that book however, I hate that he sounds like his greatest problem is having too many great ideas and too much talent.
I mean, I don’t mind if somebody’s more talented then me. But he should be poite and at least pretend he’s not*that much* more talented.
I also happen to be addicted to Terry Pratchett and constantly rereading his books. He’s amazingly funny, but of course it won’t mean much to you if you don’t like fantasy. And I was very sad when I heard of his illness.
That is so very true about Bradbury’s book. I started thinking I was rather bereft of anything after a while, but still…inspiring! And thanks for the tip on Pratchett. Will check him out–I’m open to any books the first time around 🙂
Okay… so this is going to sound … I don’t know… something, but those books for me are Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, and the plays Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. For my general reading I really enjoy very contemporary books, but I find I return to these classics like old friends.
I didn’t know about this book by Bradbury. I wonder if the quote I have above my desk comes from that book. I think I’ll definitely need to check it out – I love him.
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Oh if you love Bradbury I think you’ll love this too. And I love going back to classics too…Wuthering Heights is my usual 🙂
The “drunk on writing” quote is my new fave.
Second the suggestion on Thich Nhat Hanh… also, I recommend you check out Wendell Berry.
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Duly noted. Grazie!
One of my writing favorites is “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott. I will third “Peace Is Every Step” by Thich Nhat Hahn, as well as another slim but powerful book by him, “The Miracle of Mindfulness.” And, finally, I’m a big Natalie Goldberg fan (Writing Down the Bowns); I prefer her “Wild Mind.”
Happy reading!
Mary
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*Great* suggestions, Mary! Thanks 🙂