An excerpt from Fay Weldon

[pegkerr]

An excerpt from Fay Weldon's Letters to Alice on First Reading Jane Austen:

All I want to say is that a writer's life is not a piece of cake, although better, I swear, than a waitress's (I was one of those once, too).[Peg adds: So was I] And that, if you want to be a writer--don't; if you want to write, which is a different matter, nothing will stop you, not lack of time, nor the existence of a husband, home or children; these things will merely sharpen your determination, not deter you. And that it is useless looking for things to say; if you have nothing to say, as my mother, your grandmother, used to remark to us girls, shut up.

I adore this book.

Comments

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

You know, come to think of it, it was reading Fay Weldon in college (I was fortunate enough to take a class with the inimitable Dr. Regina Barreca, who is apparently a good friend and big fan of Ms. Weldon's, in addition to being a damned fine humorist in her own right) that made me think that maybe I *did* have something to say.

*Fay Weldon Appreciation Moment*

[jbru.livejournal.com]

Have you read Brenda Ueland's If You Want To Write? It is filled with bits that your snippet of Weldon's remind me of.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed, I've read it. In fact, it's on the shelf right next to the Weldon!