Inspired by Scribes

Some writers are as famous for their connections with other artists as they are for their own work. Even if you couldn’t finish “The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas”, you might still admire Gertrude Stein for the salons she held with creative masters like Picasso and Hemingway. Conversations with other writers often help me refine story ideas and find fuel for solitary hours of writing. When last week’s snow nearly undid my plans to meet with other writers in New York, my Pocono life felt drained of inspiration. Fortunately, the snow drifts could not keep me out of Manhattan.

Talking with other writers reminded me that there are as many paths to a writing career as there are to happiness. Sara Neufeld, for example, spent years writing for the Baltimore Sun before widespread layoffs at big city newspapers made her consider other options. She left the Sun voluntarily and now writes for an education institute. At Caroline’s Comedy Club, I talked with Jeff Kreisler, and other comedy writers who make their living writing jokes, plays, TV skits, books, and stand-up routines. These talented people know that writing for different venues helps them create a broad platform and reach a wider audience. It’s also the best way to maintain some kind of financial stability. The issue of financial stability is really important to writer Joe Paretta. He just published a book on cutting credit card debt. To balance his own budget, he also teaches writing classes at two local colleges while working on his own books.

It was energizing to talk with so many resourceful members of a profession that offers little career guidance. Before I drove back to the woods, I even found some old school writing advice at the New York Public Library exhibit on ancient sacred texts. In addition to a large display of ornate sacred books from early Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths, the exhibit had a scriptorium where you could play with writing tools like swan feather quill pens. Two excellent quotes were painted on the scriptorium wall. One came from the Prophet Muhammad who said, “The first significant thing that God created was the pen. And he said, “Flow”, and it flows with whatever it is, until the day of resurrection.” The second news flash was offered by Cennino Cennini, a scribe who lived from 1370-1440 A.D. He said, “To enter the profession, begin with decking yourself with this attire: Enthusiasm, Reverence, Obedience, and Constancy.” Somehow his words still seem relevant to writing in the age of blogs.