I hear this quote all the time, but I still remember the first time I read it on Tumblr when I was a freshman in college. It’s the most encouraging, growth-inspiring thing I’ve ever read about writing. And more broadly about just getting good at something, anything. There aren’t that many geniuses. I don’t think I have a lot of natural talent at anything. But I have realized I have a lot of ambition and desire to always grow. And that means I’m facing down a lot of gaps.
I heard Marie Forleo narrate this quote during my morning run today (I’m listening to her book Everything Is Figureoutable) and it hit me again the importance of just producing, of just trying, of knowing the only way to get better is to just keep doing it. To run the miles, write the words, say yes to scary opportunities and then figure it out.
For writing in particular, there’s a lot of comfort in the sentiment: “you have good taste and that’s going to sustain you until your work matches your ambition.” That is a lifeforce. That I trust that I know what good writing is and I will keep consuming it and keep trying to choke words out in hopes that someday enough of them will appear in the order they are meant to be. And stay that way. In a printed book. On a shelf where I can grab it and weep over it at leisure.
With Love,
Natalie