A True Alchemist? #FridayReflections

“The true alchemists do not change lead into gold; they change the world into words.” — William H. Gass

What if we were so passionate about our writing that the words we turned out were pure gold. Think of all the words that have inspired you. The words of great writers that live on for centuries after they have passed on.

I’ve often wondered what it takes to be a true alchemist of words.

Talent? Passion? Hard work? Discipline? I’m guessing it is all of these and that extra something that eludes definition.

I love these words about the power of words:

“Words ought to be a little wild, for they are the assaults of thoughts on the unthinking.” – John Maynard Keynes

“The struggle of literature is in fact a struggle to escape from the confines of language; it stretches out from the utmost limits of what can be said; what stirs literature is the call and attraction of what is not in the dictionary.” – Italo Calvino

“Words should be an intense pleasure, just as leather should be to a shoemaker. If there isn’t that pleasure for a writer, maybe he ought to be a philosopher.” – Evelyn Waugh

“I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of the hunger for life that gnaws in us all.” – Richard Wright

What are you doing with your words?

#FridayReflections

If you are new to Friday Reflections, here’s what it’s about. It’s the end of the week, you’re probably exhausted with work, and all you want to do is sit back, put your feet up, sip on some fancy cocktail or wine, and write away. Sanch of Living My Imperfect Life and Write Tribe give you writing prompts and all you have to do is choose any one of those prompts to blog about and link up between Friday and Monday. After you link up, be sure to spread the love by visiting other bloggers who have linked up too.

Feel free to add our Friday Reflections badge to your post or sidebar! Follow us on Twitter @FridayReflect and join our Facebook Group. Share your post on social media with the hashtag #FridayReflections.

Our featured writer from last week  is Vanessa who shared a Halloween story with us in response to our prompt.

If you wish to be a featured writer, join us in writing on the weekly prompts and wow us with your writing!

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 Prompts for this week:

1. If you were an animal what would you be an why

2. List 5 weaknesses about yourself

3. What’s your favourite part of your body and why

4. “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson. Use this quote in your post or as an inspiration for one.

5. Picture Prompt (courtesy Living my Imperfect Life)