“I wrote short stories when I was a teenager, but they weren't any good and I kinda knew it.” Quote by John Darnielle
“I was 14 or 15 when I discovered poetry, and I pretty much stopped writing prose until Master of Reality.” WritingRealityMastersProse Author:John Darnielle
“I did a lot of music criticism. I don't think much of it was any good. I think I wanted to show off a lot when I was younger. Now I just want people to enjoy the story. If it were possible to publish anonymously, that would be awesome.” PeopleIfsThinkingWantStoriesShowsWould BeWantedEnjoyCriticismPublishShowing Off Author:John Darnielle
“I don't really have any position to complain about my job. Yeah, every job has its moments like, "Ah, you know, it's Wednesday." But I'm blessed. I love my work.” KnowsMomentsJobsPositionYeahBlessedComplainingWednesday Author:John Darnielle
“I think God calls us to small things, to faithfulness right where we are, to just do the next thing. I was simply writing out our family stories in my online journal, scratching out what I want to remember, what I was wrestling out with God.” ThinkingWantWritingStoriesRememberNextOur FamilyOnlineWrestlingJournalSmall ThingsFaithfulness Author:Ann Voskamp
“Unbeknownst to me, two readers of the posts, both published authors, contacted their agent, Bill Jensen, within 24 hours of each other, encouraging him to drop me a line. Which he did. He shared his extensive publishing background with me, and prayerfully offered to work out a proposal and to see if God opened any publishing doors? I never get over the unexpected ways of God.” IfsWayTwoHoursLinesDoorsReaderBillsWork OutBackgroundsAgentsPostsUnexpectedPublishingGet OverProposal Author:Ann Voskamp
“The book [ One Thousand Gifts] took just over a year to write, on the fringe hours, early and late, around home educating 6 kids and farming and blogging. And I wonder if the greatest challenges was to keep pressing into it when I had never been here before. I felt like Abraham - being called to something that he didn't know how to get to.” IfsKnowsWritingYearsBookHomeKidsFeltHoursChallengesWonderKnow HowThousandLateFarmingFringeAbrahamBloggingOne Thousand Gifts Author:Ann Voskamp
“I think it was simply word of mouth that made it a New York Times bestseller for more than 60 weeks, over a year. People being moved and changed and transformed by the book [ One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are] and wanting to share that with hurting people all around them.” PeopleThinkingYearsMadeBookHurtWeekShareNew YorkChangedThousandMouthsMovedDareMade ItWhere You AreTransformedNew York TimesWord Of MouthHurting PeopleOne Thousand Gifts Author:Ann Voskamp
“I started blogging in 2004, light years ago on the Web. And I began because I have this handicap - I can't figure out my life or see God clearly unless I untangle my life again with words.” YearsI CanLightFiguresYears AgoBloggingHandicapsLight Years Author:Ann Voskamp
“The high stakes test culture runs almost totally counter to what we know about how people learn. It causes us to engage in professional malpractice on a regular basis.” PeopleKnowsRunningCultureCausesTestsBasesStakesMalpractice Author:Carol Ann Tomlinson
“In my experience, professionals who are best in any field approach their work with humility. They know that their work is more than just a job. It's an exploration of life. Even on days when they feel most confident, things can go wrong. Sometimes even the good things that happen are a mystery - a surprise. There are always elements outside our control. That's humbling - or should be.” KnowsFeelsShouldSometimesHappensJobsMysteryFieldsHumilityElementsApproachGood ThingsSurpriseExplorationHumbling Author:Carol Ann Tomlinson