“I’ve learned to stop looking for the shape of myself in how other people read me”💕💕💕💕💕💕💕 The picture of you in this post is pure joy. Congratulations!
I'm really happy for you and so so glad you decided to go ahead and be a novelist some of the time. It's a great look on you. Also, I thought that dessert was a full cake your friend had made for you, I'm so impressed! 💜
I was reading Murakami's essays on the train to work today and he said something similar about writing:
"Since I became a writer, though, and started regularly publishing books, there is one lesson I've learned. Which is that no matter what or how I write, somebody's going to say something bad about it.... It's easy to criticize - all you have to do is say what you're thinking, and you don't have to take any responsibility for anything. For the person who's being criticized, though, if he takes each and every criticism seriously he'll never survive. So I've concluded, 'Whatever. If people are going to say terrible things, then I'm just going to write what I want to write, in the way I want to write it.'/Rick Nelson had a song late in his career called 'Garden Party.' The lyrics included the following: 'See, you can't please everyone/So you got to please yourself.'/I know exactly how he feels. It's impossible to please everyone, and all you end up doing is spinning your wheels and wearing yourself out. In that case it's better to stand up for yourself and do what makes you happy, what you really want to do, the way you want to do it. Do that, and even if your reputation isn't so great, if your books don't sell well, you can tell yourself, 'It's okay. At least I enjoyed myself.' You'll be convinced it was all worthwhile." from "Who Do I Write For?" from NOVELIST AS A VOCATION
But I know your books will sell well AND you'll do it your way.
Congratulations on the publication and success of your book! As someone who has just made the transition from "writing in private" to writing things for people to read, and also as someone who is currently writing a book, I found your writing about your experience absolutely delightful and inspiring.
“I’ve learned to stop looking for the shape of myself in how other people read me”💕💕💕💕💕💕💕 The picture of you in this post is pure joy. Congratulations!
Wonderful to read about you celebrating your wins!
You’ve expressed the evolution of your thinking about your work’s reception in such an accurate and nuanced way and I am so happy for you 💐
I'm really happy for you and so so glad you decided to go ahead and be a novelist some of the time. It's a great look on you. Also, I thought that dessert was a full cake your friend had made for you, I'm so impressed! 💜
Bought it yesterday and am going to pick it up later today. Can’t wait to get into it. Loved your first two books! Much love from Berlin, U
I’m really excited to read this new book--oh wait that’s none if your business! Really though congrats! 😁
Congratulations!
I was reading Murakami's essays on the train to work today and he said something similar about writing:
"Since I became a writer, though, and started regularly publishing books, there is one lesson I've learned. Which is that no matter what or how I write, somebody's going to say something bad about it.... It's easy to criticize - all you have to do is say what you're thinking, and you don't have to take any responsibility for anything. For the person who's being criticized, though, if he takes each and every criticism seriously he'll never survive. So I've concluded, 'Whatever. If people are going to say terrible things, then I'm just going to write what I want to write, in the way I want to write it.'/Rick Nelson had a song late in his career called 'Garden Party.' The lyrics included the following: 'See, you can't please everyone/So you got to please yourself.'/I know exactly how he feels. It's impossible to please everyone, and all you end up doing is spinning your wheels and wearing yourself out. In that case it's better to stand up for yourself and do what makes you happy, what you really want to do, the way you want to do it. Do that, and even if your reputation isn't so great, if your books don't sell well, you can tell yourself, 'It's okay. At least I enjoyed myself.' You'll be convinced it was all worthwhile." from "Who Do I Write For?" from NOVELIST AS A VOCATION
But I know your books will sell well AND you'll do it your way.
Congratulations again!
That pavlova is my every dessert fantasy come to life 😍
Congratulations!!!!
I call Grantchester 'Sad Bath Vicar' but you do you.
I am loving The Late Americans so far!
Congratulations on the publication and success of your book! As someone who has just made the transition from "writing in private" to writing things for people to read, and also as someone who is currently writing a book, I found your writing about your experience absolutely delightful and inspiring.
This is really lovely. Wishing you all the best and looking forward to reading the book!
Congrats! Great stuff in the NYT and Post reviews. I grew up surrounded by Baptists. Never knew how to have fun even when they did celebrate.
Just received a notice from my library that it is available! Looking forward to spending my evening with it. Thank you for sharing your moment of joy!
I'm so happy for you.
Happy Pub Day! I look forward to seeing you when you come to Room in Madison.
woo hoo congrats!