so you want to be a writer?
if it doesn’t come bursting out of you
in spite of everything,
don’t do it.
unless it comes unasked out of your
heart and your mind and your mouth
and your gut,
don’t do it.
if you have to sit for hours
staring at your computer screen
or hunched over your
typewriter
searching for words,
don’t do it.
if you’re doing it for money or
fame,
don’t do it.
if you’re doing it because you want
women in your bed,
don’t do it.
if you have to sit there and
rewrite it again and again,
don’t do it.
if it’s hard work just thinking about doing it,
don’t do it.
if you’re trying to write like somebody
else,
forget about it.
if you have to wait for it to roar out of
you,
then wait patiently.
if it never does roar out of you,
do something else.
if you first have to read it to your wife
or your girlfriend or your boyfriend
or your parents or to anybody at all,
you’re not ready.
don’t be like so many writers,
don’t be like so many thousands of
people who call themselves writers,
don’t be dull and boring and
pretentious, don’t be consumed with self-
love.
the libraries of the world have
yawned themselves to
sleep
over your kind.
don’t add to that.
don’t do it.
unless it comes out of
your soul like a rocket,
unless being still would
drive you to madness or
suicide or murder,
don’t do it.
unless the sun inside you is
burning your gut,
don’t do it.
when it is truly time,
and if you have been chosen,
it will do it by
itself and it will keep on doing it
until you die or it dies in
you.
there is no other way.
and there never was.
-so you want to be a writer? by charles bukowski
Lovebugs, this is true of everything. I urge you to focus on your passions and stop trying to follow someone else’s dreams – even if that “someone else” is a version of you that you have outgrown. Just because someone you know does it, or because you have spent $50k on a degree to do it, or because Dad would be so proud if you did it — it’s not enough unless you really love it.
If the present you has been fighting with changing your mind, if you’re feeling a pull in another direction – go. I am giving you permission.
» Filed Under Inspiration, happiness
5 Responses to ““If it doesn’t come bursting out of you, don’t do it.””
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Oh, Leah, I LOVE this post.
“I urge you to focus on your passions and stop trying to follow someone else’s dreams – even if that “someone else” is a version of you that you have outgrown. Just because someone you know does it, or because you have spent $50k on a degree to do it, or because Dad would be so proud if you did it — it’s not enough unless you really love it.”
I have always been somewhat of an approval junkie, until the last six months or so. I’m over it. Finito. Thank you for your beautiful words (and for sharing Charles Bukowski’s words as well).
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That is heavy stuff, girl. Wow. Saving this to chew on.
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I like this post. This is how I feel when I really and truly get into what I’m writing/making.
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AMEN!!!
love this post!
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I thought I’d pop over here and support your beautiful wish – As Leah the rulebreaker wishes for herself, so I wish for her also
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