Then see what happens . . .
Ray Bradbury on how to be a writer. (The Commonplace Book Project #1)
The Commonplace Project is a daily post that starts with a quote and goes wherever the rabbit hole leads. Follow The 1000 Day MFA so you don’t miss a thing.
“Just write everyday of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens.” — Ray Bradbury
Three tiny sentences. A dozen words. One idea that has shaped my whole life.
This quote will be my New Year’s quote until I die. One of these days, I’m going to get brave enough to get it tattooed on me.
The idea is so simple. Whatever it is that you want — do the work, immerse yourself in the masters, then see what happens. Cut away all the crap and this is what you’re left with.
Either you’re willing to do it, or you’re not. Either you have the grit to see what happens, or you don’t.
I think you do.
It’s my New Year’s Day tradition to watch this recording of Ray Bradbury giving advice to aspiring writers.
And if you want a reading project for 2019, you can use mine from 2018. Read one of the stories in this book every day.
Here’s my secret weapon for sticking with whatever your thing is.
Shaunta Grimes is a writer and teacher. She is an out-of-place Nevadan living in Northwestern PA with her husband, three superstar kids, two dementia patients, a good friend, Alfred the cat, and a yellow rescue dog named Maybelline Scout. She’s on Twitter @shauntagrimes and is the author of Viral Nation and Rebel Nation and the upcoming novel The Astonishing Maybe. She is the original Ninja Writer.
