The 'Normalcy' of writing every day

 

“I think we have a great deal of mythology around writing. We believe that only a few people can really do it. I wrote a book called 'The Right to Write.' In it, I argued that all of us have the capacity to write. That it's as normal to write as it is to speak.” – Julia Cameron

Cameron, born on this date in 1948, has been a teacher, author, artist, poet, playwright, novelist, filmmaker, composer and journalist.  Led by her best-selling book The Artist's Way, she has written a remarkable 35 nonfiction books, 2 novels, 6 plays and 4 books of poetry.  She also has written many short stories, essays and screenplays.  Her latest book is 2023's Write for Life:  A Toolkit for Writers.

“I grew up (in Chicago) in what you might call a relentlessly creative household,” she said.  “We were given art supplies, music supplies... Our mother knew enough to get us started and then stand back and not meddle. My parents never said to us, 'Don't you think you'll need something to fall back on?' They acted as though creativity was completely normal.”

Her writing career started at the Washington Post before she moved over to Rolling Stone.  She married film director Martin Scorsese but after a fairly   tumultuous marriage, they divorced but maintained a close relationship, including collaborating on several films.

“I have learned, as a rule of thumb, never to ask whether you can do something,” she said about her successful writing and teaching career.  “Say, instead, that you are doing it. Then fasten your seat belt. The most remarkable things follow.“