Question by the reader Elizabeth Tyrrell

by Paulo Coelho on January 26, 2009

Do you have any advice for young writers who are writing/channeling information which is truly unique to them or anyone around them – how do you push through and keep moving forward?

Dear Elizabeth,
the only advice I can give is the following : keep on knocking every door. It’s always difficult in the beginning, but if you truly believe in what you’re doing, keep on running those risks. Life tend to be very generous with those that follow their dreams.

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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

Alexandra January 27, 2009 at 8:12 am

I have read books in which some authors ,famous,presents the fight,the lack of inspiration,the struggle,in some of their periods.These make me feel better,because I see is natural that one have some “bad” periods.I love the habitt of old poets,ancient,that were praying their muse to be kind to them.The muse is to be blamed if one cant write.Jokes appart,even you wrote in the beginning of “The Zahir” something about the difficulty of starting to write.Was fiction,or happened to you in reality?

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thewolffather January 26, 2009 at 8:50 pm

Everything is a battle, including writing. Will the reader enjoy and understand the underlieing stories, you must run that risk. One must be brave and move forward towards the personal ledgend, if that is writing, take it that God has given you this gift and use it as you will.

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Elizabeth Tyrrell January 26, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Thank You so much…Thank you!

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Savita Vega January 26, 2009 at 5:56 pm

For a little added inspiration in risk-taking, you might consider these two books:

“Extreme Fiction”
ed. Robin Henley & Michael Martone

and

“Writing Dangerous Poetry” (even if your not a poet)
Michael C. Smith

RISK –
“to take a risk”: to act without regard to the danger involved
to act in spite of the possibility of injury or loss

Considering that many of us (myself included) are almost as afraid of success as we are of failure, we might also add:
to act in spite of the possibility of our own success!

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Ema January 26, 2009 at 2:08 pm

When you like to do something for example writing, painting, singing or dancing – you will continue doing it, because you like it, you can’t live without it. It’s your gift.

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THELMA January 26, 2009 at 1:39 pm

“…those who follow their dreams and … keep dreaming..”

LOVE,
Thelma

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Jena January 26, 2009 at 1:09 pm

As for everything in our lives ~ as long as we ‘truly believe’ then the strength of the universe’s energy will be behind us, even though it may not feel like it at the time.

‘Maktub’!

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