O. Henry

"I'll give you the whole secret to short story writing.  Here it is.  Rule 1: Write stories that please yourself.  There is no Rule 2."

— O. Henry (William Sydney Porter)

American Writer

1862 - 1910

I think O. Henry's secret applies not to just to short story writing but to all the arts.  The first and most important person whom you have to please is yourself.  If you spend your creative time trying to please others, you may be successful in the short term, but you will fail in the long term.  If you publish writing which you are not happy about, it will become apparent to your reader.  If paint pictures to please others, you will not be happy.  If you write poetry to make others happy, you will fail.  So the message is simple:  create for yourself and your audience will find you.

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Jack Penn

"One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks."

— Jack Penn

South African 

Surgeon, Sculptor, Author

1909 - 1996

To be human and to live with other humans is to face challenges and difficulties.  We experience death, love and heartache, not necessarily in that order.  How we respond to the challenges that life deals us is a measure of the type of person we are.  Do we pick ourselves up and make something of what has happened or do we remain in the mud, wishing to die?  As creative leaders, we have the gift of creativity which can help us turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones.  So get out your chisel and chisel away at that stumbling block in your way.  

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Erica Jong

"Everyone has talent.  What is rare is the courage to follow that talent to the dark place where it leads."

— Erica Jong

American Writer

1942 - 

What is your talent and have you followed where it will lead you?  As a writer, it has happened to me.  When I get close to revealing the darkness within my spirit, I back away.  My mind finds some reason to get up from the writing table.  And I don't follow my talent into the dark cave of my imagination.  As a speaker and storyteller, there are places I don't go because I know others will be uncomfortable.  It takes courage to follow your muse —  to open yourself up and expose your secrets to a world that might laugh and make fun.  Yes, Erica, everyone has talent.

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