Literary Birthday – 14 March – Po Bronson

Happy Birthday, Po Bronson, born 14 March 1964.

Nine Quotes

1. It takes an average of ten years dedication before you can make a living writing creatively full time. Even those who succeed early are often rewarded with praise too early, trapping them in a yet-to-mature phase as they attempt to repeat their success. It all evens out over time.
2. Books have been my classroom and my confidant. Books have widened my horizons. Books have comforted me in my hardest times. Books have changed my life.
3. I think when a reader reads a whole book – which takes six to ten hours – that’s kind of a gift to the author. The gift of close, undivided attention. To who else do we listen so closely for eight straight hours? And when readers give that gift to me, I’m grateful for it.
4. A piece of writing has to seduce the reader, it has to suspend disbelief and earn the reader’s trust.
5. We are all writing the story of our life. We want to know what it’s ‘about’, what are its themes and which theme is on the rise. We demand of it something deeper, or richer, or more substantive. We want to know where we’re headed- not to spoil our own ending by ruining the surprise, but we want to ensure that when the ending comes, it won’t be shallow. We will not have done something. We will not have squandered our time here.
6. What makes us good writers is our constant devotion to this craft, a willingness to keep learning.
7. To be writing is good for the soul; it’s good for your character – to be observing, interpreting, producing (not just consuming).
8. I hope I’m an inspiration to all those writers out there who don’t necessarily have a dozen book-worthy memoirs in them. What I can do, instead, is listen. I can give voice to other people. I can travel, observe, interview, research and bear witness… A good writer – one who really has the skills – ought to be able to wander anywhere and find a story. And then write about it in a riveting way.
9. Failure’s hard, but success is far more dangerous. If you’re successful at the wrong thing, the mix of praise and money and opportunity can lock you in forever.

Po Bronson’s Philosophy On Writing

Po Bronson is an American author. He has built a career as a successful novelist and as a prominent writer of narrative nonfiction. His books include the best-sellers, Bombardiers and What Should I Do with My Life?

Source for Image

by Amanda Patterson

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