How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Also, an occupational hazard of writing is that you'll have bad days. You feel not only totally alone but also that everyone else is at a party. But if you talk to other people who write, you remember that this feeling is part of the process, that it's inevitable. (21.18)
It can sometimes be hard for writers to be part of a community, but at least having other writers to talk to can make you feel better. These other writers may be spending the day alone at their desks, too, but at least they can form a kind of community; they're all in the same boat, after all.
Quote #2
Writers tend to be so paranoid about talking about their work because no one, including us, really understands how it works. But it can help a great deal if you have someone you can call when you need a pep talk, someone you have learned to trust, someone who is honest and generous and who won't jinx you. When you're feeling low, you don't want anyone even to joke that you may be in some kind of astrological strike zone where you'll be for the next seven years. On a bad day you also don't need a lot of advice. You just need a little empathy and affirmation. You need to feel once again that other people have confidence in you. (21.19)
Like anything else, with writing it helps to have someone who understands and cares about us. It doesn't have to be another writer—it can be someone who is a good reader, who respects you, who can give you feedback that is actually helpful. Even the best writers need this.
Quote #3
I got to church and my committee had not yet assembled, but four of the church's elders—all women—three African Americans and one white, were having a prayer meeting. They were praying for homeless children. "Can we discuss my personal problems for a moment?" I asked.
They nodded and I told them all about my airline fears and how many moving parts there were to this trip east. They nodded again. They seemed to believe that between Jesus and a travel agent, things could probably be worked out. (17.12-13)
This quote is a classic example of Lamott's brand of self-deprecating humor. It also shows how her community at church supports her in her writing problems. Hey, you never know what you can do when you've got people backing you up.