This article contains a few more hard-hitting
quotations on the subject of writers and writing from L. M. Montgomery.
She seems ambivalent about the whole business
of being a writer, seeing it as both a gift and a curse:
“You'll never write anything that really
satisfies you though it may satisfy other people.”
From Emily Climbs
This may be true in some cases - artists
often feel that their works fall far short of their visions - but the converse
also applies: some writers may be proud of their productions while their
readers may not think much of them.
Disapproval, criticism and discouragement
People who read a lot are often criticised
for it, and people who try to write are often discouraged. L. M. Montgomery
obviously experienced much disapproval herself:
“’I think this story-writing business is the
foolishest yet,’ scoffed Marilla. ‘You’ll get a pack of nonsense into your
heads and waste time that should be put on your lessons.
Reading stories is bad enough but writing them is worse.’”
Reading stories is bad enough but writing them is worse.’”
From Anne of Green Gables
Although this disapproving attitude does a
lot of damage, that last line seems quite funny to me.
