today I’d like to talk to you about fear the kind of fear that looks like this
the kind of fear that looks like this
the kind of fear that looks like this the kind of fear that grips you slides
the kind of fear that grips you slides
the kind of fear that grips you slides into your throat and keeps you awake at
into your throat and keeps you awake at
into your throat and keeps you awake at night the kind of fear that makes you
night the kind of fear that makes you
night the kind of fear that makes you want to run away and hide this fear
want to run away and hide this fear
want to run away and hide this fear isn’t actually the monster it appears to
isn’t actually the monster it appears to
isn’t actually the monster it appears to be it looks like a monster and it feels
be it looks like a monster and it feels
be it looks like a monster and it feels like a monster but to the writer and to
like a monster but to the writer and to
like a monster but to the writer and to any and every kind of artist this fear
any and every kind of artist this fear
any and every kind of artist this fear is actually a friend this fear is what
is actually a friend this fear is what
is actually a friend this fear is what we need to be feeling in order to create
we need to be feeling in order to create
we need to be feeling in order to create or paint or write anything of worth this
or paint or write anything of worth this
or paint or write anything of worth this fear is the measure of our originality
fear is the measure of our originality
fear is the measure of our originality of our drive to reach deep inside
of our drive to reach deep inside
of our drive to reach deep inside ourselves and draw out an idea that is
ourselves and draw out an idea that is
ourselves and draw out an idea that is honest original and true an idea that
honest original and true an idea that
honest original and true an idea that doesn’t just retread the same old part
doesn’t just retread the same old part
doesn’t just retread the same old part an idea that tries to break new ground
an idea that tries to break new ground
an idea that tries to break new ground to fit our understanding of the world
to fit our understanding of the world
to fit our understanding of the world around us to a shape that we and only we
around us to a shape that we and only we
around us to a shape that we and only we can see I know this because I’ve felt
can see I know this because I’ve felt
can see I know this because I’ve felt that fear and I still feel it pretty
that fear and I still feel it pretty
that fear and I still feel it pretty much every day pretty much every time I
much every day pretty much every time I
much every day pretty much every time I sit down to write it’s there peeking out
sit down to write it’s there peeking out
sit down to write it’s there peeking out from behind every paragraph it’s there
from behind every paragraph it’s there
from behind every paragraph it’s there lurking behind every sentence it’s there
lurking behind every sentence it’s there
lurking behind every sentence it’s there and the slow tentative movements I make
and the slow tentative movements I make
and the slow tentative movements I make towards trying to understand my
towards trying to understand my
towards trying to understand my characters their motivations their
characters their motivations their
characters their motivations their states of mind and it’s there above all
states of mind and it’s there above all
states of mind and it’s there above all in the moment in which an idea is born
in the moment in which an idea is born
in the moment in which an idea is born that crazy intoxicating moment when a
that crazy intoxicating moment when a
that crazy intoxicating moment when a loose series of thoughts or images seems
loose series of thoughts or images seems
loose series of thoughts or images seems to coalesce into something some
to coalesce into something some
to coalesce into something some distillation of a feeling or a question
distillation of a feeling or a question
distillation of a feeling or a question that might just become the beginning of
that might just become the beginning of
that might just become the beginning of a book what a stupid idea
a book what a stupid idea
a book what a stupid idea the fear says then I actually imagine
the fear says then I actually imagine
the fear says then I actually imagine him with a sort of slithering sibilant
him with a sort of slithering sibilant
him with a sort of slithering sibilant voice a bit like this
voice a bit like this
voice a bit like this in the film of the jungle book but I was
in the film of the jungle book but I was
in the film of the jungle book but I was very my acting skills what a loser you
very my acting skills what a loser you
very my acting skills what a loser you are even to think of it okay so this has
are even to think of it okay so this has
are even to think of it okay so this has never been written before but what makes
never been written before but what makes
never been written before but what makes you think that it’s worth writing now if
you think that it’s worth writing now if
you think that it’s worth writing now if I were you I’d give this up straight
I were you I’d give this up straight
I were you I’d give this up straight away you’re bound to fail I first met
away you’re bound to fail I first met
away you’re bound to fail I first met the fear about four years ago when I
the fear about four years ago when I
the fear about four years ago when I reached something of a crossroads in my
reached something of a crossroads in my
reached something of a crossroads in my life as a novelist or an aspiring
life as a novelist or an aspiring
life as a novelist or an aspiring novelist I should say because I hadn’t
novelist I should say because I hadn’t
novelist I should say because I hadn’t actually yet published a book over the
actually yet published a book over the
actually yet published a book over the last 10 years I’d written two whole
last 10 years I’d written two whole
last 10 years I’d written two whole novels while working full-time as a
novels while working full-time as a
novels while working full-time as a journalist it hadn’t been easy I’d given
journalist it hadn’t been easy I’d given
journalist it hadn’t been easy I’d given up evenings weekends holidays when
up evenings weekends holidays when
up evenings weekends holidays when friends and family were out having fun
friends and family were out having fun
friends and family were out having fun and I was sat in the dark room talking
and I was sat in the dark room talking
and I was sat in the dark room talking to imagining people staring at my laptop
to imagining people staring at my laptop
to imagining people staring at my laptop screen but obviously it was something I
screen but obviously it was something I
screen but obviously it was something I needed to do it was I was driven to do
needed to do it was I was driven to do
needed to do it was I was driven to do it and I had been for as long as I could
it and I had been for as long as I could
it and I had been for as long as I could remember all I had ever wanted to do was
remember all I had ever wanted to do was
remember all I had ever wanted to do was write fiction and as I wrote those two
write fiction and as I wrote those two
write fiction and as I wrote those two novels I had high hopes for each of them
novels I had high hopes for each of them
novels I had high hopes for each of them I believed I poured in my blood sweat
I believed I poured in my blood sweat
I believed I poured in my blood sweat and tears and I believed that each of
and tears and I believed that each of
and tears and I believed that each of these books might just be the novel that
these books might just be the novel that
these books might just be the novel that would launch me into the world that
would launch me into the world that
would launch me into the world that would connect me with readers that would
would connect me with readers that would
would connect me with readers that would that would see me a published author but
that would see me a published author but
that would see me a published author but unfortunately that wasn’t what happened
unfortunately that wasn’t what happened
unfortunately that wasn’t what happened you seen either of those novels was
you seen either of those novels was
you seen either of those novels was working they looked like real books but
working they looked like real books but
working they looked like real books but they didn’t smell like them something
they didn’t smell like them something
they didn’t smell like them something was missing some key ingredient
was missing some key ingredient
was missing some key ingredient they just weren’t lifting off the page
they just weren’t lifting off the page
they just weren’t lifting off the page they were standing in the shadow of
they were standing in the shadow of
they were standing in the shadow of other far greater novels rather than
other far greater novels rather than
other far greater novels rather than trying to break new ground
trying to break new ground
trying to break new ground of their own as you can probably imagine
of their own as you can probably imagine
of their own as you can probably imagine the moment I came to that realization
the moment I came to that realization
the moment I came to that realization was pretty depressing I’d recently
was pretty depressing I’d recently
was pretty depressing I’d recently turned 30 which I appreciate is not old
turned 30 which I appreciate is not old
turned 30 which I appreciate is not old by any stretch of the imagination but it
by any stretch of the imagination but it
by any stretch of the imagination but it was old enough to meet already feel like
was old enough to meet already feel like
was old enough to meet already feel like I was failing as a young child loving
I was failing as a young child loving
I was failing as a young child loving books dreaming of writing them and later
books dreaming of writing them and later
books dreaming of writing them and later as a student here in Cambridge I’d never
as a student here in Cambridge I’d never
as a student here in Cambridge I’d never have imagined not having published my
have imagined not having published my
have imagined not having published my first novel by the time I was 30 it was
first novel by the time I was 30 it was
first novel by the time I was 30 it was all I wanted to do it was the sum total
all I wanted to do it was the sum total
all I wanted to do it was the sum total of my hopes and ambitions and so for a
of my hopes and ambitions and so for a
of my hopes and ambitions and so for a while
while
while I let myself be depressed I’m each
I let myself be depressed I’m each
I let myself be depressed I’m each Tyrone
Tyrone
Tyrone I ate an awful lot of cake some of it I
I ate an awful lot of cake some of it I
I ate an awful lot of cake some of it I think suspiciously like this I indulged
think suspiciously like this I indulged
think suspiciously like this I indulged in self-pity I told myself it was
in self-pity I told myself it was
in self-pity I told myself it was pointless that I’d never make a writer
pointless that I’d never make a writer
pointless that I’d never make a writer never find anything original to say how
never find anything original to say how
never find anything original to say how could I when everything worth saying had
could I when everything worth saying had
could I when everything worth saying had already been said I looked at all those
already been said I looked at all those
already been said I looked at all those novels lined up on my shelves all those
novels lined up on my shelves all those
novels lined up on my shelves all those amazing published authors whose work I
amazing published authors whose work I
amazing published authors whose work I so loved and admired how could I
so loved and admired how could I
so loved and admired how could I seriously ever dream of joining them how
seriously ever dream of joining them how
seriously ever dream of joining them how could I ever come up with anything as
could I ever come up with anything as
could I ever come up with anything as interesting or necessary or original as
interesting or necessary or original as
interesting or necessary or original as they had and then one morning the fear
they had and then one morning the fear
they had and then one morning the fear entered my life he and I will point out
entered my life he and I will point out
entered my life he and I will point out of this at this point that I do picture
of this at this point that I do picture
of this at this point that I do picture the fear as a man in fact he looks
the fear as a man in fact he looks
the fear as a man in fact he looks slightly like Richard he grant in my
slightly like Richard he grant in my
slightly like Richard he grant in my head some somewhere between Richard he
head some somewhere between Richard he
head some somewhere between Richard he grant and that wall Russ I showed you
grant and that wall Russ I showed you
grant and that wall Russ I showed you earlier
earlier
earlier so like Richard Lee grant with fangs
so like Richard Lee grant with fangs
so like Richard Lee grant with fangs probably don’t have time to go into the
probably don’t have time to go into the
probably don’t have time to go into the psychological implications of that right
psychological implications of that right
psychological implications of that right now but you can picture whatever you
now but you can picture whatever you
now but you can picture whatever you like for me it was Richard Lee Grahn in
like for me it was Richard Lee Grahn in
like for me it was Richard Lee Grahn in my head with fangs appearing in my head
my head with fangs appearing in my head
my head with fangs appearing in my head one morning dragging on the coattails of
one morning dragging on the coattails of
one morning dragging on the coattails of an idea for a novel a fragile concept
an idea for a novel a fragile concept
an idea for a novel a fragile concept that also appeared that morning and just
that also appeared that morning and just
that also appeared that morning and just refused to leave the idea was this to
refused to leave the idea was this to
refused to leave the idea was this to tell the story of one couples
tell the story of one couples
tell the story of one couples relationship in three different versions
relationship in three different versions
relationship in three different versions so weaving together into one novel three
so weaving together into one novel three
so weaving together into one novel three separate trajectories of how this
separate trajectories of how this
separate trajectories of how this couples life together or apart might
couples life together or apart might
couples life together or apart might turn out this idea felt exciting to me
turn out this idea felt exciting to me
turn out this idea felt exciting to me immediately in a way that no other idea
immediately in a way that no other idea
immediately in a way that no other idea ever really had neither of those two
ever really had neither of those two
ever really had neither of those two novels I’d finished nor any of the
novels I’d finished nor any of the
novels I’d finished nor any of the countless other books and stories that
countless other books and stories that
countless other books and stories that I’d started and set aside this idea felt
I’d started and set aside this idea felt
I’d started and set aside this idea felt different it felt important it was
different it felt important it was
different it felt important it was founded on something I was absolutely
founded on something I was absolutely
founded on something I was absolutely fascinated about which are these tiny
fascinated about which are these tiny
fascinated about which are these tiny fulcrum points that draw our lives down
fulcrum points that draw our lives down
fulcrum points that draw our lives down one path rather than another it didn’t
one path rather than another it didn’t
one path rather than another it didn’t feel like any book I’d read before it
feel like any book I’d read before it
feel like any book I’d read before it felt like the story I had to tell and
felt like the story I had to tell and
felt like the story I had to tell and that was where the fear slipped in with
that was where the fear slipped in with
that was where the fear slipped in with his slithering sibilant voice he
his slithering sibilant voice he
his slithering sibilant voice he whispered in my hair he said Laura I
whispered in my hair he said Laura I
whispered in my hair he said Laura I don’t know what you’re thinking now but
don’t know what you’re thinking now but
don’t know what you’re thinking now but this is just crazy you really need to
this is just crazy you really need to
this is just crazy you really need to give us up now because no one’s ever
give us up now because no one’s ever
give us up now because no one’s ever written three versions
written three versions
written three versions the same characters into one book and
the same characters into one book and
the same characters into one book and you just need to give up it’s just never
you just need to give up it’s just never
you just need to give up it’s just never gonna happen well for a while I listened
gonna happen well for a while I listened
gonna happen well for a while I listened to the fear I did dismiss the idea as
to the fear I did dismiss the idea as
to the fear I did dismiss the idea as crazy impossible stupid
crazy impossible stupid
crazy impossible stupid I set it aside I ate some more cake I
I set it aside I ate some more cake I
I set it aside I ate some more cake I just wondered what on earth I was going
just wondered what on earth I was going
just wondered what on earth I was going to do next but then over the next few
to do next but then over the next few
to do next but then over the next few day the next few weeks something seemed
day the next few weeks something seemed
day the next few weeks something seemed to change in me the fear seemed to shift
to change in me the fear seemed to shift
to change in me the fear seemed to shift his shape in my mind I started to wonder
his shape in my mind I started to wonder
his shape in my mind I started to wonder whether the presence of the fear
whether the presence of the fear
whether the presence of the fear actually indicated that I was on to
actually indicated that I was on to
actually indicated that I was on to something that this idea was worth
something that this idea was worth
something that this idea was worth pursuing I started to question myself I
pursuing I started to question myself I
pursuing I started to question myself I started to think that perhaps if I
started to think that perhaps if I
started to think that perhaps if I wasn’t feeling the fear as I hadn’t been
wasn’t feeling the fear as I hadn’t been
wasn’t feeling the fear as I hadn’t been not really with either of those other
not really with either of those other
not really with either of those other two novels I’d been doing something
two novels I’d been doing something
two novels I’d been doing something wrong perhaps I’d simply been standing
wrong perhaps I’d simply been standing
wrong perhaps I’d simply been standing in the shadow of the Giants all those
in the shadow of the Giants all those
in the shadow of the Giants all those writers I most admired and loved and
writers I most admired and loved and
writers I most admired and loved and simply trying to reframe their ideas
simply trying to reframe their ideas
simply trying to reframe their ideas their ways of seeing as my own if I was
their ways of seeing as my own if I was
their ways of seeing as my own if I was feeling the fear perhaps I was being
feeling the fear perhaps I was being
feeling the fear perhaps I was being given a chance to step out from the
given a chance to step out from the
given a chance to step out from the shadow of those giants and write
shadow of those giants and write
shadow of those giants and write something innovative something new I
something innovative something new I
something innovative something new I decided that the fear wasn’t actually so
decided that the fear wasn’t actually so
decided that the fear wasn’t actually so terrifying after all
terrifying after all
terrifying after all he wasn’t exactly cuddly those fangs and
he wasn’t exactly cuddly those fangs and
he wasn’t exactly cuddly those fangs and that scary Richard II brought face were
that scary Richard II brought face were
that scary Richard II brought face were a bit too scary for that but he didn’t
a bit too scary for that but he didn’t
a bit too scary for that but he didn’t terrify me as he had before I took that
terrify me as he had before I took that
terrify me as he had before I took that idea the idea of the one couple told in
idea the idea of the one couple told in
idea the idea of the one couple told in three different ways and I started to
three different ways and I started to
three different ways and I started to write and over the next 10 months or so
write and over the next 10 months or so
write and over the next 10 months or so I wrote that idea into a novel they gave
I wrote that idea into a novel they gave
I wrote that idea into a novel they gave it the title the versions of us and a
it the title the versions of us and a
it the title the versions of us and a couple years after I finished that first
couple years after I finished that first
couple years after I finished that first draft
draft
draft it became my first published novel and
it became my first published novel and
it became my first published novel and changed my life in ways I couldn’t even
changed my life in ways I couldn’t even
changed my life in ways I couldn’t even have imagined the most amazing thing
have imagined the most amazing thing
have imagined the most amazing thing about it has been to my absolute
about it has been to my absolute
about it has been to my absolute amazement and delight it seems to have
amazement and delight it seems to have
amazement and delight it seems to have connected with readers all over the
connected with readers all over the
connected with readers all over the world and it’s been translated into 23
world and it’s been translated into 23
world and it’s been translated into 23 languages this is a selection of the
languages this is a selection of the
languages this is a selection of the different editions of myself in my study
different editions of myself in my study
different editions of myself in my study and most importantly of all it’s given
and most importantly of all it’s given
and most importantly of all it’s given me the opportunity to realize my dream
me the opportunity to realize my dream
me the opportunity to realize my dream without meaning to sound to pollyannaish
without meaning to sound to pollyannaish
without meaning to sound to pollyannaish that is really what happened I get to
that is really what happened I get to
that is really what happened I get to now spend my time thinking about talking
now spend my time thinking about talking
now spend my time thinking about talking about and of course writing fiction but
about and of course writing fiction but
about and of course writing fiction but I will emphasize that even with that
I will emphasize that even with that
I will emphasize that even with that degree of success even with my dreams
degree of success even with my dreams
degree of success even with my dreams coming to you left right and center the
coming to you left right and center the
coming to you left right and center the fear has not gone away in fact he came
fear has not gone away in fact he came
fear has not gone away in fact he came straight back as soon as I started
straight back as soon as I started
straight back as soon as I started working on my second novel greater Pitt
working on my second novel greater Pitt
working on my second novel greater Pitt I had in mind an idea of my next book
I had in mind an idea of my next book
I had in mind an idea of my next book which the fear deemed absolutely crazy
which the fear deemed absolutely crazy
which the fear deemed absolutely crazy in fact crazier than the one I’ve
in fact crazier than the one I’ve
in fact crazier than the one I’ve written before this time I wanted to
written before this time I wanted to
written before this time I wanted to write the whole life story of a musician
write the whole life story of a musician
write the whole life story of a musician a women a singer-songwriter British who
a women a singer-songwriter British who
a women a singer-songwriter British who in my head was somewhere between Joni
in my head was somewhere between Joni
in my head was somewhere between Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush but what was
Mitchell and Kate Bush but what was
Mitchell and Kate Bush but what was really mad about this idea and what
really mad about this idea and what
really mad about this idea and what really got the feel of furious was that
really got the feel of furious was that
really got the feel of furious was that I wanted to work with a
I wanted to work with a
I wanted to work with a singer-songwriter a live real life one
singer-songwriter a live real life one
singer-songwriter a live real life one not a fictional one to create the songs
not a fictional one to create the songs
not a fictional one to create the songs that were reflected in the book so to
that were reflected in the book so to
that were reflected in the book so to release an album they would they would
release an album they would they would
release an album they would they would come out alongside the book this really
come out alongside the book this really
come out alongside the book this really felt exciting to me it felt like an
felt exciting to me it felt like an
felt exciting to me it felt like an opportunity to truly break new ground
opportunity to truly break new ground
opportunity to truly break new ground because as far as I was aware that had
because as far as I was aware that had
because as far as I was aware that had never been done before well as they say
never been done before well as they say
never been done before well as they say the fear had an absolute field day with
the fear had an absolute field day with
the fear had an absolute field day with that he thought I’d finally lost the
that he thought I’d finally lost the
that he thought I’d finally lost the plot he just stood there he folded his
plot he just stood there he folded his
plot he just stood there he folded his arms he told me forget it Laura this is
arms he told me forget it Laura this is
arms he told me forget it Laura this is ridiculous no one’s ever going to agree
ridiculous no one’s ever going to agree
ridiculous no one’s ever going to agree to do this with you
to do this with you
to do this with you how are you gonna get your publisher to
how are you gonna get your publisher to
how are you gonna get your publisher to talk to her a record label it’s complete
talk to her a record label it’s complete
talk to her a record label it’s complete madness just stop now before you
madness just stop now before you
madness just stop now before you embarrass yourself but this time I was
embarrass yourself but this time I was
embarrass yourself but this time I was ready for the fear this time I invited
ready for the fear this time I invited
ready for the fear this time I invited him in over offered him a cup of tea
him in over offered him a cup of tea
him in over offered him a cup of tea I said hey good to see you again welcome
I said hey good to see you again welcome
I said hey good to see you again welcome back because this time I was sure that
back because this time I was sure that
back because this time I was sure that his presence meant I was on to something
his presence meant I was on to something
his presence meant I was on to something but this idea was worth pursuing I did
but this idea was worth pursuing I did
but this idea was worth pursuing I did pursue it and as you can see the book
pursue it and as you can see the book
pursue it and as you can see the book exists and will be coming out this
exists and will be coming out this
exists and will be coming out this summer and I’ve been working on an album
summer and I’ve been working on an album
summer and I’ve been working on an album with an amazing singer/songwriter called
with an amazing singer/songwriter called
with an amazing singer/songwriter called Catherine Williams that will release
Catherine Williams that will release
Catherine Williams that will release alongside it and the whole experience
alongside it and the whole experience
alongside it and the whole experience has been so much more exciting so much
has been so much more exciting so much
has been so much more exciting so much more life-changing than I could even
more life-changing than I could even
more life-changing than I could even have imagined I’m telling you all this
have imagined I’m telling you all this
have imagined I’m telling you all this because in the end I do think that idea
because in the end I do think that idea
because in the end I do think that idea was worth pursuing and that the fear in
was worth pursuing and that the fear in
was worth pursuing and that the fear in the end can be our friend
the end can be our friend
the end can be our friend today we are thinking about giants about
today we are thinking about giants about
today we are thinking about giants about whether we as artists song writers poets
whether we as artists song writers poets
whether we as artists song writers poets must stand on the shoulders of the
must stand on the shoulders of the
must stand on the shoulders of the Giants if those who came before us in
Giants if those who came before us in
Giants if those who came before us in order to see our
order to see our
order to see our towards creating something innovative
towards creating something innovative
towards creating something innovative something of worth the point I’d like to
something of worth the point I’d like to
something of worth the point I’d like to leave you with is that it isn’t enough
leave you with is that it isn’t enough
leave you with is that it isn’t enough simply to stand on those shoulders
simply to stand on those shoulders
simply to stand on those shoulders taking in the view from up there what we
taking in the view from up there what we
taking in the view from up there what we must do instead is do that look out from
must do instead is do that look out from
must do instead is do that look out from where the Giants have looked look
where the Giants have looked look
where the Giants have looked look through their eyes but then direct our
through their eyes but then direct our
through their eyes but then direct our gaze inwards at our own thoughts our own
gaze inwards at our own thoughts our own
gaze inwards at our own thoughts our own experiences
experiences
experiences it’s not about disregarding the world
it’s not about disregarding the world
it’s not about disregarding the world around us or ignoring what other writers
around us or ignoring what other writers
around us or ignoring what other writers have to say but about trusting in the
have to say but about trusting in the
have to say but about trusting in the uniqueness of our own perspective as an
uniqueness of our own perspective as an
uniqueness of our own perspective as an amazing series of documentary films by
amazing series of documentary films by
amazing series of documentary films by the musician Dave Grohl and his band Foo
the musician Dave Grohl and his band Foo
the musician Dave Grohl and his band Foo Fighters relating to an album they may
Fighters relating to an album they may
Fighters relating to an album they may called sonic highways each track on the
called sonic highways each track on the
called sonic highways each track on the record is inspired by different American
record is inspired by different American
record is inspired by different American city and in the film we see the band
city and in the film we see the band
city and in the film we see the band touring that city and then recording a
touring that city and then recording a
touring that city and then recording a track in a studio in one of these films
track in a studio in one of these films
track in a studio in one of these films inside one of those studios there’s a
inside one of those studios there’s a
inside one of those studios there’s a poster on the wall and you guessed it
poster on the wall and you guessed it
poster on the wall and you guessed it says this don’t follow in the footsteps
says this don’t follow in the footsteps
says this don’t follow in the footsteps of the Masters seek what they saw now
of the Masters seek what they saw now
of the Masters seek what they saw now I’ve researched as it turns out this
I’ve researched as it turns out this
I’ve researched as it turns out this isn’t actually Dave Grohl’s own
isn’t actually Dave Grohl’s own
isn’t actually Dave Grohl’s own philosophy which I found slightly
philosophy which I found slightly
philosophy which I found slightly disappointing but it’s that over 17th
disappointing but it’s that over 17th
disappointing but it’s that over 17th century Japanese poet named Matsuo Basho
century Japanese poet named Matsuo Basho
century Japanese poet named Matsuo Basho what I find so striking about this quote
what I find so striking about this quote
what I find so striking about this quote and its relevance today is that it
and its relevance today is that it
and its relevance today is that it reminds us that we as artists or writers
reminds us that we as artists or writers
reminds us that we as artists or writers or scientists or researchers or anyone
or scientists or researchers or anyone
or scientists or researchers or anyone trying to do anything of worth in any
trying to do anything of worth in any
trying to do anything of worth in any field
field
field we can’t ever hope to repeat the
we can’t ever hope to repeat the
we can’t ever hope to repeat the triumphs of those who’ve come before
triumphs of those who’ve come before
triumphs of those who’ve come before what we must do instead is try to do
what we must do instead is try to do
what we must do instead is try to do what they did to look inside themselves
what they did to look inside themselves
what they did to look inside themselves and find out what they and only they
and find out what they and only they
and find out what they and only they really wanted to write or paint or
really wanted to write or paint or
really wanted to write or paint or research when we do that we can be sure
research when we do that we can be sure
research when we do that we can be sure that the fear will come crawling
that the fear will come crawling
that the fear will come crawling wretchedly grant or The Walrus or
wretchedly grant or The Walrus or
wretchedly grant or The Walrus or whoever hears for you he’ll come with
whoever hears for you he’ll come with
whoever hears for you he’ll come with his claws out and his teeth bared but
his claws out and his teeth bared but
his claws out and his teeth bared but it’s been as we stare back at him that
it’s been as we stare back at him that
it’s been as we stare back at him that we can be certain we’re in with the
we can be certain we’re in with the
we can be certain we’re in with the chance of creating something honest
chance of creating something honest
chance of creating something honest original and true
”
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