Friday, November 13, 2020

Do or Do Not: It's All Okay

 

Emma D. Dryden



Lordy I am so weary of 2020.  I am fatigued with the chaos, distressed about the pandemic, which has hit too close to home of late. 

As we at Teaching Authors continue to explore our favorite inspirations, I’ve written about all the ways I try to keep my head in the game. I continue to take classes, read craft books, and just read in general. Take walks. And garden. I also teach. But it can be dispiriting. I confess, there are moments  of late that I have no feel for my writing. Then I find myself feeling all sorts of convoluted messiness that I, as a working writer, should write some pages every day. And when I can’t, I feel like perhaps I never will again. 

Everyone knows Emma D. Dryden, whom I value as my own Dumbledore. Emma is a long-time indomitable presence in publishing. Working thirty years in the field, she was Vice President, Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K. McElderry Books, imprints of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, a position she held until 2009 when she launched drydenbks

No one knows more than Emma the ups and downs that each writer faces in pursuit of their craft.

Recently, Emma sent this wisdom. This is my favorite quote of the entire year!  It seems so apropos for the struggles we as writers and teachers are facing during these trying times. I thought you may need to hear these encouraging words.

And, should you need more feelings good, here’s a video that comforts and inspires. From Brittany Howard, You Never Walk Alone.



By the way, how are you doing?

--Bobbi Miller


7 comments:

Esther Hershenhorn said...

Bobbi!
I am doing as best as I can do thanks to YOU, my fellow bloggers and our readers, and posts like this one!
Thanks for sharing Emma Dryden's inspiring words.
PLUS helping me find out who was singing this terrific version of WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH A STORM that I saw in a tv ad. :)
We can keep keepin' on!
Your Fan Esther

Bobbi Miller said...

Dear Esther: You are my inspiration! Thank you for your kind words (and I just LOVE this song and singer! I saw her in a TV ad and then searched YouTube for more information. She's fantastic in everything she does.)

Linda Mitchell said...

What a wonderful post. I have heard of Emma Dryden...but didn't know all her postings in the publishing world. Thank you for that. We are all just moving forward as best as we can these days. For me, some days are better than others. I would love to get back to normal...whatever that was?

Margaret Simon said...

I feel a mixture of anger and gratitude every day. Yesterday I wrote a poem I love and it loves me back, but I also yelled at the vet's office because no one was wearing a mask. I yelled, "It's the Law!" I am happy for the gratitude and that I can still write poems, but anger and me do not get along very well. Thanks for the quote. I needed it!

Michelle Kogan said...

Thanks Bobbi for your rich post and quote by Emma Dryden recognizing our vulnerabilities. Looking forward to COVID-19 moving on...

Michelle Kogan said...

Thanks Bobbi for your rich post and quote by Emma Dryden recognizing our vulnerabilities. Looking forward to COVID-19 moving on...

Michelle Kogan said...

Thanks Bobbi for your rich post and quote by Emma Dryden recognizing our vulnerabilities. Looking forward to COVID-19 moving on...