One of the things about the internet is an upsurge in the number of inspirational quotations one sees in daily life.  They pop up on social networking sites all the time, and I’m pretty sure there’s been an inspiration increase in merchandise like T-Shirts and magnets and even in graffiti (especially on the walls and doors of pub toilets).

These quotes range from kind of cheesy (‘if all else fails, hug your dog’) to actually sort of helpful (‘the adverb is not your friend’).  Twitter and Facebook are full of both, and there seems to be a penchant on Pinterest and Tumblr for coupling them with what are supposed to be inspirational images (but as often as not are pictures of cute fluffy things).  Observe:

Not really sure what’s going on there – I don’t feel this is the most obvious illustration of this quote, but perhaps I’m thinking too laterally.

Anyway, perhaps unsurprisingly there are a prodigious number of quotes for and by writers kicking around the internet, some of which have been paired up with inappropriate images and some that haven’t.  I am fond of collecting words, and I have a few that feel relevant to 12 Books in 12 Months.  I thought I would share, partly because it is helpful to me to have them in one place, and partly because they explain my attitude quite well.

It is perfectly okay to write garbage – as long as you edit brilliantly. – C J Cherryh

I’m not a very good writer, but I’m an excellent rewriter. – James Michener

The first 8 drafts are terrible. – Malcolm Gladwell

Be willing and unafraid to write badly, because often the bad stuff clears the way for good. – Jennifer Egan

What I’m saying is, the editing process is brutal, but I will get there eventually.  And I now fully expect some inspirational quote spam bots.  If they don’t appear, I will be most put out.