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Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

All great writers are riddled with self-doubt. Even if they have just produced a well-acclaimed masterpiece, they can't just sit back and enjoy the plaudits. They want to go back straight away to their writing desks to find out if it was just an accident, or whether they can do it all again - and on it goes, even if they manage to do it a third and fourth time. That's the nature of writing. It's all uncertain until you do it - then do it again! As you say, my friend, "Let's all clasp hands and chant a song of impermanence" because it sure beats the hell out of being stuck in some permanent soul-destroying job from 9.00 - 5.00 (forever) just to pay a mortgage!

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

i have chance a song of impermanence and then pay my mortgage. jesus no wonder i'm wondering! Thanks old Comrade. i find the writing more fulfilling with the plaudits , but the plaudits aren't bad

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

chants

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Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

Oh, I must tell you- my son said that "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" is the best animated film he has ever seen, (mainly because of the dialogue) and my granddaughter agrees with him, so you have hit the heights at least twice, and you're transcending generations. How many screen writers in your business can say that?

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Martin, in all honesty my work on that was mostly of the story variety and the macro tale of it all, but I appreciate that and know it's beloved. Cool Runnings was pure from my 29 tear old poet soul and I know nothing so it is special to me

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Holly Starley's avatar

Thanks for saying this, Martin. I always like the reassurance of hearing it—aw, yes, that’s how it is.

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Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

That's how it is.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Thank you Robert and glad you found your way to it.

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Eric Trules's avatar

“Where is the sweet spot between needy and self-sufficient?”

Been spending my life trying to figure that one out, Swerdlow!

“The beauty of writing is that you have to be somewhat present to do it, and that even if you’re writing about imprisonment, it can set you free.”

Frank Darabont, “Shawshank Redemption”

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Text me from there. You may find it in jolly ol' England.

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Renee Missel's avatar

Accepting 'not knowing' is a good practice. Eveyone has self doubts, I hope. Someone without would be a monster. The blue coming out of your soul is your imprint on the world. And yes, creativity is lonely, and fosters self doubt. So, let's indeed chant a song of impermanence.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

It is a good practice. Not knowing is the best thing to to know.

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Feldsher's avatar

We’re all Jamaican bobsleders selling T-shirts to fund our dreams. I love your t-shirts. This one fits really well. 🤍

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

I'm your t-shirt tailor and ex husband of your Goginess. I take the job seriously.

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Alix's avatar

bravo…

i love it, gratefully

Walked right through this life and my ways. Thank you

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

you're welcome - Thanks for groking it

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Angela's avatar

Chloe Hope sent me, and I’m stayin’.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Wonderful.

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rohn bayes's avatar

i got two movies out of this :: puss n boots and cool runnings

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Robert Wallis's avatar

Damn. Such a beautiful and brutally honest piece. Well done and thank you.

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Holly Starley's avatar

We gotta remind ourselves of the successes!

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Elias S.'s avatar

I needed this today. Tommy, as usual, your writing touches something special.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Hey Kiddo, always good to hear from and to known you're reading along. I hope the struggles are pointing toward home.

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Nina S Hiken's avatar

Tommy: your words are gorgeous whether sad, mad, needy, quandrified.

A massive fuck ya to

"having to make that blue in your soul and then applying it with a brush, which is what I think writing is," no explanation necessary.

Lately, I've been trying to trust my (benign) instincts no matter what. Not the flip off devil drivers or murder chatting check out clerk instincts; the ones that say this word, here. This little scene, there. Don't say anything to that friend about her bad idea; let her try out.

Ugh, I don't know, this isn't quite what I mean...

This comment is unfinished; maybe that's right, too.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Let's keep is wabi-sabi sister N

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

There's a couple of more. Try A Thousand Junkies. Cool Runnings in a little darker shade.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Fuck, I'm a re-claimer, goddamn it, I didn't even realize it!

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Patris's avatar

Very important for all creatives to read. Reclamation of self by whatever means necessary ..

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