Echoes in a Hollow Space

Random quote of the day:

“The presence of God.
In a tunnel of birdsong
a locked gate opens.

—Tomas Tranströmer, “Haikudikter”
(tr. Michael McGriff and Mikaela Grassl)



Disclaimer: The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Bert and Ernie, Celine Dion, or the Band of the Coldstream Guards. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

Random quote of the day:

“I believe that in the 20^th century, humanity has learned from many, many experiences. Some positive, and many negative. What misery, what destruction! The greatest number of human beings were killed in the two world wars of this century. But human nature is such that when we face a tremendous critical situation, the human mind can wake up and find some other alternative. That is a human capacity.”

—Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, New York Times, November 18, 1993

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Orville and Wilbur, Katy Perry, or the Avengers. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Random quote of the day:

“Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”

—Zen proverb

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Lucy and Ethel, Justin Bieber, or the Kardashian Klan. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Random quote of the day:

“However much you love other human beings, you cannot attain enlightenment on their behalf; they must find their own way, make their own metaphor, and engage in their own realizing.”

—Caitlin and John Matthews, Walkers Between the Worlds

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Siegfried and Roy, Leonard Maltin, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Random quote of the day:

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because some day in life you will have been all of these.

—George Washington Carver, George Washington Carver: In His Own Words, ed. Gary R. Kremer

 

Disclaimer:  The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Siegfried and Roy, Leonard Maltin, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

 

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Random quote of the day:

“Strictly speaking, there are no enlightened people, there is only enlightened activity.”

—Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

 

 

Disclaimer:  The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Siegfried and Roy, Leonard Maltin, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

 

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Random quote of the day:

 

“Whatever walks in the family gate is not the true treasure.”

—Buddhist saying

 

 

Disclaimer:  The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Siegfried and Roy, Leonard Maltin, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Random quote of the day:

 

“A mature person is one who does not think only in absolutes, who is able to be objective even when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and all things, and who walks humbly and deals charitably with the circumstances of life, knowing that in this world no one is all-knowing and therefore all of us need both love and charity.”

—Eleanor Roosevelt, You Learn By Living

 

Disclaimer:  The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Siegfried and Roy, Leonard Maltin, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

larbelestier is doing a daily tip for those participating in NoNoWriMo. Today's is Word Count Is Not Everything.

I'm not doing NaNo—never have, never will—but I'm so glad she said that. I read posts from people banging out 5000 words a night and I shrivel with feelings of inadequacy. If I'm really cranked up and in the groove of a novel I can average between 750-1000 words a day. When the stars align right, maybe 1500-2000, but those occasions are the blessed exceptions.

I've actually heard a lot of pros address this subject and I know I'm doing okay with my piddling three to four pages a day. But reports of these other word counts still get to me now and then. The ability to generate high word count is a blessing: either the person has the energy and capacity for it despite being busy, or doesn't have to worry about a day job, or whatever—but they are blessed. Those of us on the other end of the spectrum will just have to keep plugging away as best we can. 750 words a day still equals 21,000 words a month and that equals a book every 4 months or so.

If you're working steadily at it, that is. That's the true accomplishment, I think, for most of us: putting one slow foot in front of the other day after day until you achieve Bookhood Bodhisattva. Remove yourself from the Wheel of Word Count, ye seekers, and find your own enlightenment... Ommmmm...