"The best work in literature is always done by those who do not depend on it for their daily bread, and the highest form of literature, Poetry, brings no wealth to the singer... Make some sacrifice for your art and you will be repaid but ask of art to sacrifice itself for you and a bitter disappointment may come to you."
To me this sounds like: "so you're a novelist who earns her living as a receptionist? Excellent! You're able to let your art remain art! I know you dream of one day earning your living by your novels, but it might not be as rosy as you think. Until then, use this time to grow as a writer and a student of language and see where it takes you. You might go farther than you think." Thank you, Mr. Wilde.
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In a similar vein, author Matt Haig also had thirty pieces of encouraging wisdom to share via the Telegraph. My favorites were:
- Being published doesn't make you happy. It just swaps your old neuroses for new ones.
- Success depends on great words and passionate people. The words are up to you. The people you have to pray for, and stand by them once you have them.
- Beauty breeds beauty, truth triggers truth. The cure for writer's block is therefore to read.
