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Monday, April 9, 2012

A to Z Blogger Challenge: Letter H

HUMBLE

For me, reading a fantastic book is like admiring the art in the Sistene Chapel or taking in the majestic Niagara Falls. Words in novels take my breath away. I am astounded and awed by the beauty of them and how, if placed just so, they flow off my tongue like poetry. I am HUMBLED by them.

It is also a very HUMBLING thing to be a writer. To strive for excellence through voice, while it is already so prevalent in the world. To wonder if I could ever write something as elegant and soft, or harsh and choppy as others seem to have nailed with ease. 

To be a writer isn't the easiest of roads when there are so many others who are equally as blessed with the gift and vying for the same attention I seek. I am daily HUMBLED on this journey and can't help but wonder if years down the road: Will someone read my work and be HUMBLED too?

What about you? Are you HUMBLED by anything you do? 

25 comments:

  1. I'm humbled when I read really good books.

    And then I get to writing because I want to be as good as them :)

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  2. I feel like I say this a lot, but I agree with Kelley! I too am humbled when I read great books. :D

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  3. No, I'm arrogant enough to keep thinking how much better I could have done it :P

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  4. I am humbled by my children. They remind me to be a better person every day.

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  5. I completely agree! a great book humbles me. How do they make it look so easy?

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  6. Yes, I'm humbled when I read an excellent book. I'm humbled by teaching, too. I learn so much from my students if I remember to listen.

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  7. I love when I close a book and just sigh. Then I think how lucky I am that I know the author and I can't believe I'm a part of such an awesome community. Truly humbles my butt right up.

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  8. Also humbled when I read a great story.

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  9. Like the others, I'm humbled when I read great writing and a fabulous story.

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  10. Good question! Our projects really are works of art,aren't they? I've come to the conclusion that a really good story that can actually humble a reader, takes at least a year to perfect.

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  11. Oh goodness, I'm constantly humbled in this writing community. Humbled by the amazing supportive friends, but the crazy good writers and by the potential that we can always strive to be better!

    Awesome H theme, Deana :)

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  12. I'm humbled by the talent I keep meeting - not only writers but artists and singers and...just CLEVER people LOL. I'm meeting a lot on the A-Z Challenge, actually. But there's nothing like reading a good book, one you don't want to end...Nice to meet you!

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  13. I am humbled by excellent writing. I'm also humbled when I read the Bible.

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  14. I so agree - writing is an incredibly humbling experience. Incredibly. And oh so hard sometimes. But hopefully someone will be humbled by our work too and then it'll be worth it.

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  15. I totally feel this way when I read great books. Sometimes, when I feel like a crap writer, I can't even read in my genre bc I'm too humbled by it. So many good writers out there.

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  16. All the time! It is a good thing to be humbled, it makes us try even harder :)

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  17. What a beautifully insightful post, Deana. I am inspired by your words. :)

    I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award! Visit this link to collect: http://melissakline.blogspot.com/2012/04/sunshine-award.html

    Keep spreading sunshine!

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  18. I am constantly humbled by great writing! I always think I'm going to study a book I admire and figure out exactly how they do it, but before long I'm completely drawn into the story, swept away by wonderful writing ...

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  19. There really are so many amazing writers out there, and I often wonder if i can compare. But I like to think there are readers out there just waiting to fall in love with our stories too!

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  20. I felt humbled when I read through my first Russian novel for the first time in almost a decade last spring (the files were held hostage on obsolete file formats on disks). While I feel I did a really good job on the sequel (long held hostage in my memory and in outline/note form only) last year, I honestly don't think I couldn't written the book in that way at any other time in my journey as a writer. I feel even more humbled knowing I wrote it between the ages of 13 and 21, and once I started my second major writing phase at 16, I made it into the vast, sweeping epic saga it became, with so many storylines and characters I was able to ultimately tie all together and use to set the ground for many things that happen in the second book and eventual third books and beyond. Did I really do that when I was that young?

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  21. Being a writer is quite the humbling experience. Especially when you read a really good book and realize you've got a long road to walk before getting to that point!

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  23. Oh, man, it can be SO humbling. When I read some really excellent writing I wonder what the heck I'm doing trying to be a writer myself.

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  24. I so agree with you. When I read a good book I am totally humbled by the author's talent and way with words. And then I immediately think that I will never be able to write anything close!! LOL, humbling is probably the best word I've heard to describe the writing experience. Great choice for H!

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Speak on young grasshopper