Thought for the Weekend - George Orwell

It seems like an age since I've put up a 'Thought for the Weekend' - and maybe that's because of late, like so many other things in my life, the weekend has become submerged into the murky waters of  'what day is it again??'  when I should be asking myself much more important questions like, why am I spending more of my life in the fictional world of writing, than in the real world of living? 

Call it post writing syndrome, but after finishing the first draft of 'The Doll's House' last week, (all 120,000 words of it!!!) I find myself with a tremendous amount of unallocated time, and it's weird because I've gotten so used to having none, that I'm like a blind lunatic wondering what to do next, with a 'to do list' as long as any decent piece of string, and not a whole lot of interest in shortening it - if that makes any sense! 

So in an effort to bring some sense to it all, and after reading ''72 of the Best Quotes for Writers'," I'll hand you over to the master himself, Mr George Orwell below!

For the other 71 Quotes - Click HERE 

“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”

George Orwell

Have a lovely weekend everyone!!!

Thought for the Weekend - Jumping off cliffs and developing wings!

Right, I'm in writing hibernation for the next two days! You won't hear a word from me - honest:)

And all the cliffs I might feel I'm jumping off, will hopefully be imagined, as will be the wings developed to stop me crashing on the way down!!!!

Thought for the Weekend

'Those who write clearly have readers. Those who write obscurely have commentators'

 Albert Camus

Thought for the Weekend - Fiction & Feelings

I read something during the week which struck a cord with me. 

Sometimes when we're writing, something very wonderful happens - you get to really feel for and with the characters you are creating.  It is a great moment, for when it occurs you know you have gotten to the place where you need to be, right at the core of it all, right at the core of them.

Anyhow, the piece I read, and apologies in advance to whoever wrote it, because I didn't take note of the source, goes something like this:-

'Fiction isn't real, but feelings are.'

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Thought for the Weekend - Stephen King & I

It seems like an eternity since I've done a 'Thought for the Weekend' post!!!  Why have I been so remiss you might ask?  Well because it seems like an eternity since I've had the time!  Shame on moi! I say:)

I had one of those 'I'm so busy being busy days' today (which happen far too often), I got into a mood, abandoned all tasks requiring attention and went for a long walk instead.

Pure madness probably - but I felt like it, and it felt good.

Anyhow (fav crutch word), I took the above pic while out walking, firstly because I like it, and secondly because I like when things look right because they look wrong, like water covering the base of trees, things in water which should be on land.  Yeah, yeah, sounds like more madness but sure why not?

I'm also on a bit of a Stephen King drive at the moment, which is one of the reasons why I'm using a quote from the master himself as this weekend's  'Thought for the Weekend'. 

Hope you like it, and have a brilliant weekend.

Stephen King

'The most important things are the hardest to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them -- words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they're brought out. But it's more than that, isn't it? The most important things lie too close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you may make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you've said at all, or why you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it. That's the worst, I think. When the secret stays locked within not for want of a teller but for want of an understanding ear.'

Thought for the Weekend - Sean O'Casey

I'm posting this week's thought for the weekend a little early.  Well it is a kind of special quote, not just because I love Sean O' Casey's work, but because the words are deep, meaningful, and does what all good writing should do - it makes you think.

"Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity."

- Sean O'Casey -

(Btw - thanks to @MoloneyKing on Twitter who put up the quote last week - if you are not following, well darn blast you should do!)

Thought for the Weekend - Courage

This week's thought for the weekend from Anne Tucker is short and simple, but very true.

'All art requires courage.'

- Anne Tucker -

Thought for the Weekend - Free Will?

Here's something for you to get your teeth into this weekend, nice quote from Scott Adams, plus enjoy this brilliant cartoon sketch from David Hume.

"Free will is an illusion. People always choose the perceived path of greatest pleasure."

 - Scott Adams -

How to Succeed - Thought for the Week

Now some of you loyal followers may have noticed that I haven't posted a 'Thought for the Weekend' for the last couple of weeks.  Believe me, it wasn't because I wasn't thinking, it was more that life just got really complicated and time disappeared a little the way water disappears down a drain, fast and furious.

So, as I have been slacking in this department, I've decided to post a 'Thought for the Week' instead.  Probably like some of you, I was watching Xfactor over the weekend, (yes I know I just said I had no time for anything, but somethings you just do even when no time exists) and I heard Gary Barlow's words on the best advice he ever heard, and this is what he said.  He said, success is 90% hard work and determination, and 10% talent. 

Now I remember hearing something like this before, which of course gave me huge encouragement, after all we can all work darn hard if we choose to.  So I got to thinking about the advice many successful writers give about writing, which is that in order to write, you must first sit your bum on a chair and begin.  The sitting down bit being the key.  Thus bringing us nicely to the 'Thought for the Week', courtesy of Mr Woody Allen:-

'Eighty per cent of success, is showing up.'

- Woody Allen -

Thought for the Weekend - The Writing Stranger

For this week's thought for the weekend, I give you the following quote - Love the idea of the theoretical stranger!

"What a writer can do, what a fiction writer or a poet or an essay writer can do, is re-engage people with their own humanity. Fiction and essays can create empathy for the theoretical stranger."

- Barbara Kingsolver-

Thought for the Weekend - Frank O'Connor

I thought we could go all writerly for this week's Thought for the Weekend - and who better than Frank O'Connor to set us on the right path!

'There are three necessary elements in a story—exposition, development, and drama. Exposition we may illustrate as “John Fortescue was a solicitor in the little town of X”; development as “One day Mrs. Fortescue told him she was about to leave him for another man”; and drama as “You will do nothing of the kind,” he said.'

- FRANK O’CONNOR -

Thought for the Weekend - Steve Jobs

Okay I know I've been a bit quiet lately, but believe me I've had good reason.  In the meantime this quote from the late Steve Jobs does it for me right now!

'You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something -- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.'

- Steve Jobs -

Thought for the Weekend - Dr Seuss

My thanks to Brendan Dunne (Twitter@BrendanD100) for this week's Thought for the Weekend on 120 Socks official 1st Birthday.

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

- Dr Seuss -

I was delighted when Brendan suggested this quote for this weekend, as I vividly the Dr Seuss books when my children were younger.  My eldest daughter was dyslexic, so we had lots of Dr Seuss books and her favourite was the Cat in the Hat - I bet she can still say the whole book by heart.  Below is the part that no doubt still floats into my dreams, I heard and read it so many times!  If you have your own Dr Seuss memories, let me know, if YOU can get the comment box to work (blogger messing things up lately).

"too wet to go out,

 and too cold to play ball,

they just sat in the house,

 and did nothing at all,
and all they could do

 was to sit, sit, sit,

and they did not like it,

not one little bit..."
 

The Wonderful World of Socks

I'm back from the wilderness, and what a wild time I've had.  There are just so many things to catch up on, I'm not sure where to start, except that 'thank you' is often a pretty good place, especially when it is deserved.  

So, number one, a big thank you for visiting 120 Socks blog 6,584 times last month, and another really big thank you for visiting it 1,512 times this week, even though I've been away and therefore not blogging, which gets me to wondering whether these old socks could carry on without me! 

Secondly, I had a fab day today at the RTEguide/Penguin workshop courtesy of getting on the long list for the competition, and I was amazed to hear that 4,000 people submitted work, 500 of whom visited here to find out details about the competition! But more about that on a separate post.

Our short holiday break into the wilderness went really well, so I'll be doing a post on this over the next few days, lots of pics and stories which I hope you will enjoy.

This month's book club choice is 'Before I Go To Sleep'. I read it while I was away,(staying up until 4.30 in the morning to finish it) so dying to hear what you all think.  Reviews will be posted at the end of the month, so contact me either here or on twitter if you want your review included.

Later in the month, I will be doing an interview with the fantastic Derbhile Dromey, and reviewing her new book, 'The Pink Cage', so watch out for that!

Anyone missing the 'When you were small' series will be pleased to know that a new post will go up this Monday based on your first holidays, so get your thinking hats on!

I've also learned a couple of neat things about Twitter, which I'll share this month.

Other than the above, I hope to do a guest post with the wonderful Moloney King, give you some details on a series of library readings which I'm delighted to be part of, put up some more crazy vintage ads (cause you love to hate them!), and share details of a great photographic exhibition!

Finally, I'm nearly there in relation to getting my novel submission package completed, so I'll fill you in on all the ups, downs, in between, etc over the coming few weeks.

I've missed you all over the last few days,and I'm deffo not addicted to Twitter or Blogging, honestly, and that lunatic hanging out the hotel window trying to get a signal, it wasn't me!

So, a little late, but nevertheless important - This week's 'Thought for the Weekend' is one I noticed on a tweet from @MoloneyKing and it's from the wonderful Enda O Brien. The picture below is from the wilderness hols and there are plenty more of them to come!

"When anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees. Maimed, stark and misshapen, but ferociously tenacious."

- Enda O Brien -

Thought for the Weekend - Pearl Bailey

With a name like Pearl, you do kind of wonder if it might help someone think good things about themselves, or do the very opposite.  Whichever it is, the quote below has merit.  Afterall, you if don't believe in yourself, what others think doesn't matter all that much! 

Have a great weekend everyone.

"No one can figure out your worth but you."

- Pearl Bailey -

Thought for the Weekend - Thomas Merton

I like this quote, but art can be found everywhere, as I discovered yesterday on my mountain walk.

 

 

 

'Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.'

 

 

- Thomas Merton -

 

 

Thought for the Weekend - Hello Family!

Regular visitors to my blog will have worked out by now that I don't usually post pictures of friends, family or any other personal connections on this site.  I've posted a couple of pics of our dog Benson, but that was okay because he told me it was - I could see it in his eyes!

Last week's 'Thought for the Weekend' was all about saying goodbye to an old friend.  As it turned out, for anyone who read the post, I never did take Joan's number out of my phone, my heart would not allow it.  

This week has been a bit of a strange one, but at the same time, when you join up all the dots, you get to see a pretty clear picture.  Last weekend we went to the christening of my niece, one of those family gathering where we all say, we must do this more often, but rarely get around to it.  Then later this week, I read a post about a friend of mine Krystal Wade, (which you can read HERE), all about balancing work and family life, specifically in the area of writing.  I also had extra time over the last few days with my two girls, rounding the week off last night with a trip to see 'Grease The Musical' (review to follow).  So all in all, the week brought family to the fore in bucket loads.  

Okay, hand on heart, I will admit here, I believe all my children are wonderful.  I may be biased, but I don't care.  I am not really sure how, or why, they each turned out so fantastic, but it did get me thinking about motherhood and all that.  Even today with them all grown up, I make mistakes, but for the most part, I do my utmost to be the best mother I can be.  So just as a exception today, I give you a pic of my three babies.  (The actual baby in the photograph is my niece, she's the one wearing the small white christening dress!)

And of course there is a quote below, which is the point of this regular posting - and just to clarify, I'm not saying I always pick the good approach, but like most of us, I do my best! 

I apologise in advance for any over sentimentality today - but we all gotta have a bit of it every now and again!  Have a great weekend all! :)

'There's no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.'

- Jill Churchill -


And for those of you who are feeling sentimental today - check out this link HERE
 - Thanks to @Castletonian on Twitter - a good guy to follow!

Thoughts for the Weekend - Joan O'Flynn

A little under 2 years ago a friend of mine died.  Her illness came quickly and took us all by surprise.  To say I loved this woman as a friend does not come close to how important she was to me.  Joan was a writer, an actress, a radio presenter, a mother, a grandmother, a wife, and the best of friends.  She made me laugh often. I listened to her advice because I knew she was so wise.  My life was better for her being part of it. 

Anyhow (fav crutch word), today something strange happened. By accident I hit her number on my mobile phone.  Now I know it's pretty odd that I still have her number in my phone, it wasn't like I was going to be able to call her.  But when she died, I couldn't remove it.  I realised when the number came up today, that I am now ready to do it, although I haven't done it yet.  I know for sure when I do, I will cry because well that's just me.

Because I thought of her again today, I read a diary which I kept the last time a number of us as friends went away on a writers retreat.  We all knew without being told that Joan's time was close, so we treated her like a Queen, in fact that was her blog name 'DramaQueen'. 

Below is an extract from my diary which I hope you will enjoy.  I have also put some quotes from Joan which I recorded in the diary, and her beautiful poem - 'When I'm Gone'.


The Last Weekend


We all stayed up late,
friends talking,
listening,
scolding,
giving away small pieces of ourselves,
emotions mixed in the cauldron of friendship,
reading poetry
as sleep fought the battle
of noise from hotel corridors,
and the anxiety of an unwell friend


Joan Quotes:-

"The gift of a book, is the gift of language."

"When you are an old hen like me, you won't care so much."

"I used to be like you, checked out of hotel rooms on time, now I live dangerously."

"Stop doing everything, let the idiots look after themselves."

"Never stop writing, I want to see your book on my shelf to remind me how clever you are."

"I guess the lung cancer missed out this time around."

"I'm only slagging you, if I had half my voice left, I would talk endlessly just like you."


When I'm Gone


The grown ups
will know it's in the order of things,
and shed some tears, heave a sigh of relief
to hide their grief and fears of their own mortality.


They'll reminisce
through the drab funeral days,
and kiss and laugh and cry and probably fight
because that's what families are like.


But the children will forget the look on my face
when they won a race, or gave a hug
or shrugged off a childish worry.
They won't know the glow each grandchild brought,


As they wrapped themselves around my heart.
They won't hear of the fear when ill health came,
lying awake feeling the heartache,
fearing the pain of the future.


They won't remember
because who can share
the things too frightening, too precious, too rare
that we hold in the soul of our being.


By Joan O Flynn -my good friend

Thought for the Weekend - Sean O'Casey

 

 

"All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed."

 

- Sean O'Casey -

 

 

Thought for the Weekend - J K Rowling

'It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.'

-J.K. Rowling-