Well, folks, it's Saint Patrick's Day, and I was talking to my good friend Paddy O. Furniture and he said,

"Knock, knock!"
"Who's there?"
"Warren."
"Warren who?"

"Warren anything green today?"

 But he didn't stop there.  Oh no.

"Knock, knock!"
"Who's there?"
"Irish."
"Irish who?"
"Irish you a happy St. Patrick's Day!"

I came across a few inspirational quotes about writing.  I know what you're thinking...you boring blogger you.

Me?  Boring?  I'll take inspiration anywhere I can find it.  Here goes.  Read on...

Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.
Oscar Wilde

I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.
Steve Martin
...star and co-writer of "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid"

Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.
Reggie Leach

If you don't allow yourself the possibility of writing something very, very bad, it would be hard to write something very good.
Steven Galloway

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.
Confucius

And, of course, my personal fave, Wile E. Coyote.  Actually, the guy doesn't speak, but here are his thoughts.  Dang, I just blew myself up again.  Oh, well...better press on.  Greg

I few years ago someone posted on the listserve I belong to that Bloody Jack was a good read.  So I checked it out.  Holy Cow!  The author, L. A. Meyers, is one great writer.  For years I've been waiting for someone to bump To Kill a Mocking Bird out of my all-time favorite book slot.  Well, ladies and gentlemen, I think Bloody Jack finally did it.  Actually Bloody Jack is the first book in a series of swashbuckling adventures of one Jacky Faber.  There are now five books in the series and I like them all equally.  If you haven't read these books yet, give them a whirl.  You won't be disappointed. 

Here are the five books in order: Bloody Jack, Curse of the Blue Tatoo, Under the Jolly Roger, In the Belly of the Bloodhound, and Mississippi Jack.  What makes this series so outstanding is that they are not only great adventures stories, but great prose.  The best I've come across, actually.  I could never rave about a writer unless I liked his/her words.  Story is not enough!  I look for voice above all else (of course story has to be there as well).  Check 'em out...Greg

Hi, folks.  The other day I sat down for a chat with F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, and others.

Greg - Tell us something about your writing life.

F. Scott - Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else.

Greg - Not even eating chocolate?

F. Scott - Good point.

Greg - Thanks.  Can you give us some advice in three words or less?

F. Scott - What do you thing I am, a picture book writer?

Greg - Please?  I have chocolate.

F. Scott - Action is character.

Greg - Is that another way of saying "show, don't tell?"

F. Scott - It is.  Also, whether or not you write well, write bravely.

Greg - Keep going...you're on a roll.

F. Scott - Actually, this is a lawn chair.  But here goes...writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those, who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, the melancholia, the panic fear, which is inherent in a human condition.

Greg - I knew you had a dark side.  Let's stay upbeat here, buddy.  This is a kid's lit blog.

F. Scott - What's a blog?

Greg - It's an internet thing.

F. Scott - What's an internet?

Greg - I'll tell you letter.  Let's get back to writing.  Do you think writers are born or made?

F. Scott - Talent is helpful in writing, but guts are absolutely necessary.

Greg - Any thoughts on revision?

F. Scott - Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over. 

Greg - Dang! 

F. Scott - Also, cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke. 

Greg - Good advice.  How about a last word or two?

F. Scott - Remember, I'm no picture book writer.

Greg - Okay, use as many words as you like.

F. Scott - An author ought to write for the youth of his own generation, the critics of the next, and the schoolmaster of ever afterwards. 

I think a person who creates—in my case a writer— needs to pay attention to what inspires him (or her) even when that inspiration comes from someplace outside their particular field.  Here is a case in point.  Check this dude out.  I call it Inspirational Video Number One.

A couple of weeks ago I did a few days of school visits down in Long Beach and spent the night at a hotel there, where I found myself watching American Idol.  Check out Inspirational Video Number Two.  I can't imagine finding your calling so early in life.  It's no fair, I tell you!  Greg

Yesterday I spent the day at San Roque School in Santa Barbara, ending their week of author visits (Mary Hershey and Mark Williams had been there the two previous days).  Interesting school—San Roque.  There are no desks in the entire school, nor are there textbooks.  Hmmm...not sure I know how I feel about that.  But the focus on literature is great for writers...their library was amazing, as was their cafeteria.  I had buffalo burger!  Oh, my!

I gave three presentations in their science room, then later made the rounds as the kids were involved writer's workshops.  One eighth grader asked how should he deal with writer's block.  I told him that writers block didn't exist...he just had to allow himself to write a terrible first draft and then move on to revision.  All in all, the kids at San Roque rocked...literally.  You should have heard them in the band room.  Greg