"The great affair, the love-affair with life, is to live as variously possible, to groom one's curiosity like a thoroughbred, climb aboard, and gallop over the thick, sun-struck hills every day.... It began in mystery and it will end in mystery, but what a savage and beautiful country lies in between."

- Diane Ackerman

One of my favorite quotes ever. I love the vivacity in this. A great philosophy for life, and for writing. Join me? Climb aboard and let's gallop over that savage and beautiful country, shall we? 

I love this quote from C.S. Lewis: 

Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.

My take: if you make your writing personal and bleed on the page, it will always be original- because you are a unique person who views life and experiences in a unique way.  Love this!

James Scott Bell tweeted this last week, and though I've never heard of Cyril Connolly, I realized it was exactly the quote I wanted to share with you all.  Happy Holidays, and may we all write for ourselves (and hopefully have a public, too) in 2012!

Better to write for yourself and have no public, than write for the public and have no self. - Cyril Connolly

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.

William Wordsworth