I told Slightly-British Daughter about something Barbara Sher said - that resonated with me - at the WriteSpeak retreat this past week.
SBD (of course, because she's fricking brilliant - and always 3 miles ahead of me) reminded me of a quote with the same theme, that she has tacked inside her closet (shades of Salinger characters with writing on their walls) that she'd shown me a few weeks ago (and I'd - of course, because I'm that way - forgotten).
Here's the awesome, mind-blowing quote:
"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, trees, street signs, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows.
Select only things to
steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this your work
(and theft) will be authentic.
Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non existent. And don't bother concealing your thievery- celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean Luc-Godard said: 'Its not where you take things from, it's where you take them to.' "
Jim Jarmusch
Wow! Right?
