“It does not take a great supernatural heroine or magical hero to save the world.We all save it every day, and we all destroy it -- in our own small ways -- by every choice we make and every tiniest action resulting from that choice.The next time you feel useless and impotent, remember what you are in fact doing in this very moment. And then observe your tiny, seemingly meaningless acts and choices coalesce and cascade together into a powerful positive whole.The world -- if it could -- will thank you for it.And if it does not... well, a true heroine or hero does not require it.” IfsWorldWayFeelsWellsDoeWholeMomentsFactsActionTogetherRememberChoicesNextPowerfulHeroTinyUselessMeaninglessNext TimeSave The WorldHeroinesPowerlessnessCascadeTrue Hero Author:Vera Nazarian
“Relief is a great feeling.It's the emotional and physical reward we receive from our bodies upon alleviation of pain, pressure and struggle. A time to bask in the lack of the negative.And yet, think about it—relief is really the status quo, a negation of the suffering, a nothing in itself. It is the way things were before the pressure and struggle began.So, is it a step back? A regression?Or is it an opportunity to regroup, start over, and move in a different direction?Use your moment of relief well.” ThinkingWayWellsDifferentMomentsUseFeelingsBodyPainMovingSufferingOpportunityStepsStruggleEmotionalNegativePressureRewardsReliefStatus QuoStarting OverYour MomDifferent DirectionsNegationGreat FeelingsRegressionPain Relief Author:Vera Nazarian
“Of course at that point I had no idea that the adventure was only beginning and that the struggle and the rejections were to pile before me, a typical young writer, in an implacable mountain. But I was on my way.” WayIdeasYoungCoursesStruggleAdventureMountainMy WayNo IdeaRejectionTypicalYoung Writers Author:Vera Nazarian
“Seems to me that there is no better way to experience the depth of loss than after the fact. No more powerful instrument of imbuing value in an object than parting with it.” WayFactsSeemsValuesLossPowerfulObjectsInstrumentsDepthPartingBetter Ways Author:Vera Nazarian
“And it is a quiet terrible thing, too, to discover the value of love this way [after loss] - when the object of love is no longer there, when love dies or goes away or changes. When it is too late.” WayValuesDiesLossLove IsObjectsTerribleQuietLateToo LateTerrible ThingsValue Of Love Author:Vera Nazarian
“I love to fool my readers, but in a good way. If you've read any of my work, there's a good chance that at some point I surprised you.” IfsWayChanceFoolReaderGood WayGood Chance Author:Vera Nazarian
“My advice for aspiring writers is threefold.First, read as much as possible, both within and outside the genre you arem working in. By reading you hone your internal ear for style. Second, write. Everything comes down to it; unless you write, you are not a writer. Third, submit your work. But - stop chasing every seductive new market out there, and stop trying to write for the tastes of specific established professional markets and editors. That way lies mediocrity and eventual dissolution of your true voice, no matter how embryonic or pronounced it may be now.” WayWritingTryingFirstsMayMatterLyingReadingVoiceAdviceStyleTasteEarsThirdsGenreInternalsEditorsMediocritySubmitChasingSeductiveStop TryingDissolutionAspiring Writers Author:Vera Nazarian
“The only way to help your unique literary voice grow and eventually sing like a glorious creature of wonder is to write what you excites you into a creative passion and brings you pure unadulterated joy.” WayWritingHelpingJoyPassionGrowsVoiceWonderCreativePureCreaturesUniqueGloriousCreative Passion Author:Vera Nazarian
“Love is made up of three unconditional properties in equal measure: 1. Acceptance 2. Understanding 3. Appreciation Remove any one of the three and the triangle falls apart. Which, by the way, is something highly inadvisable. Think about it — do you really want to live in a world of only two dimensions? So, for the love of a triangle, please keep love whole.” ThinkingWorldWayWantMadeTwoWholeFallThreeUnderstandingLove IsAcceptancePleaseEqualPropertyAffectionAppreciationDimensionsRemoveFalling ApartUnconditionalTrianglesUnconditional AcceptanceThree Dimensions Author:Vera Nazarian
“Responsibility and Trust -- these two are like Yin and Yang, together perfectly complete, and each one requiring the presence of the other. The next time you mistrust someone, consider this -- does that person feel responsible for you in any way? If the answer is yes, then go ahead and trust them. Very likely, they are looking out for your best interest.” IfsWayFeelsPersonsDoeTwoTogetherNextInterestAnswersResponsibilityResponsibleNext TimeMistrustYangYin And Yang Author:Vera Nazarian
“Neither sugar nor salt tastes particularly good by itself. Each is at its best when used to season other things. Love is the same way. Use it to "season" people.” PeopleWayUseUsedLove IsTasteSeasonsSugarSalt Author:Vera Nazarian
“If you are faced with a mountain, you have several options. You can climb it and cross to the other side. You can go around it. You can dig under it. You can fly over it. You can blow it up. You can ignore it and pretend it’s not there. You can turn around and go back the way you came. Or you can stay on the mountain and make it your home.” IfsWayInspirationalHomeTurnsChoicesSidesMountainCrossesBlowClimbsOver ItMountaineeringMountain ClimbingClimbing MountainInspirational Mountain ClimbingClimbing Mountains InspirationalClimbing Up Author:Vera Nazarian
“Once upon a time there were two countries, at war with each other. In order to make peace after many years of conflict, they decided to build a bridge across the ocean. But because they never learned each other’s language properly, they could never agree on the details, so the two halves of the bridge they started to build never met. To this day the bridge extends far into the ocean from both sides, and simply ends half way, miles in the wrong direction from the meeting point. And the two countries are still at war.” WayYearsStillsTwoWarEndsCountryOrderLanguageSidesHalfMetsConflictOceanDecidedAgreeMeetingsDetailsMilesBridgesThis DayBoth SidesMaking PeaceOnce Upon A TimeWrong DirectionHalf WayTwo Countries Author:Vera Nazarian
