A-Z Writer's Toolbox: Sacrifice



A to Z Disclaimer:

Like all craftspeople, writers need to keep a bag of tricks handy. A set of tools for the job (writing), if you will. Some of these traits or tools are obvious--like the need to have a hide as thick as a brick, for instance. Some are not. This month, I've been challenged to do a post every day of the week (excluding Sunday) that begins with a letter of the alphabet. I'm going to use this challenge to examine some of those necessary writing tools, both conventional and not. Hold on to your #2 pencil, here we go!

NOTE: I've added a page dedicated to my A to Z Writer's Toolbox posts. I figured I'd soon have a bunch of these things and it'll make it easier for you to browse any of the letters you might have missed. You can find a link to the page under the, "MORE STUFF" heading at the top of the right-hand column of this page.


S is for sacrifice

What have you given up in order to be the best writer you can be?  Time?  Hobbies?  Friends?  Humility? Sanity?  If success is what you're after, sacrifice is a necessary part of the pursuit, no matter the task.

"Dreams do come true, if we only wish hard enough. You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it." ~James M. Barrie








"Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority." ~ Vince Lombardi

"I think that the good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrifice." ~ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
"It is not sacrifice if you love what you're doing." ~Mia Ham

"The time I burned my guitar it was like a sacrifice. You sacrifice the things you love. I love my guitar." ~ Jimi Hendrix

"The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become." ~ Charles DuBois

"In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich." ~ Henry Ward Beecher

"One-half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it." ~ Sidney Howard

"To gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else." ~ Bernadette Devlin

~EJW~

10 comments:

  1. Love the quotes especially the Lombardi one. I feel like I've given up a lot lately. It's tough. Hopefully the sacrifice will be worth it.

    Great post!

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  2. Very appropriate for Good Friday.On Easter we can rejoice with the birth of new ideas, and the reward for all of our sacrifices. Excellent!

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  3. I've given up Sanity. Definitely sanity. And hobbies. And friends. And...

    A very nice collection of quotes.

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  4. Writers and artists definitely know the meaning of sacrifice. I sacrifice time with my family and a clean house to write.

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  5. Yes. Especially what Vicki Tremper said.

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  6. After awhile, sacrifice becomes a given. You don't even see it as a choice anymore.

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  7. Loved the quotes. And sacrifice, don't we all do it?

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  8. I was going to say that I've give up my sanity but I see that someone already used that line. :-(

    Today I am giving away the Versatile Blogger Award. I have selected you. I love your blog. To pick up your award, go here.

    http://lind-guistics.blogspot.com/2011/04/award.html

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  9. Hi, EJ. I just discovered your blog, and I love these quotes. I'm looking forward to reading through the rest of your "toolbox," great site.

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  10. I've given up my spot on the couch in front of the boob-tube.

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“Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

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