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Dr. Mardy Grothe's avatar

Thanks, Harvey. Regarding the Hemingway quotation--which comes from A Moveable Feast (1964)--most people regard it as a form of writing advice, but the full passage reveals that Hemingway was addressing the words to himself as a young writer:

“I would stand and look out over the roofs of Paris and think, 'Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence you know.'”

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Harvey Stanbrough's avatar

Also, I personally use the sentence as a mixture of motivation/advice/reminder while I'm writing.

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Dr. Mardy Grothe's avatar

As do I.

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Harvey Stanbrough's avatar

Yep, I remember.

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RECrowley's avatar

Not at all based on the ages’ old law that words and expressions have double meanings.

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Harvey Stanbrough's avatar

Amost always. For the character and the writer. And on the other end, also for the reader.

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Ed's avatar

So true. With anything creative, you have to show up in the first place, and with an open mind, for the muse to strike. If you ignore it and remain closed off from inspiration you’ll miss it completely

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Harvey Stanbrough's avatar

Yes, and you'll also miss it if you're focused too closely on one thing. The more closely you look (conscious mind) the more will pass you by unnoticed.

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