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Some inspiring Camus, first thing in the morning!

Photos of Elizabeth Gilbert

via Elizabeth Gilbert’s Facebook Wall

WORD OF THE DAY: SITZFLEISCH.

Asha, a friend of this page, just asked me to remind her of this word, which I mentioned from stage on Saturday afternoon in my talk with Wally Lamb, when we were discussing writerly discipline. "Sitzfleisch" is a fabulous word, and everyone out there who is living a creative life needs to know about it.

The word is German (though widely appropriated in Yiddish) and it literally means "butt flesh". (The meat of your ass, in other words.) But the figurative use of "sitzfleish" means: "The amount of endurance a person has for sitting still on his/her butt for the hours and hours and hours of time that it takes to get important work done."

Sitzfleisch is sort of the opposite of Ants In Your Pants.

The amount of sitzfleisch you've got will directly influence how much work you can produce. How long can you stand it, to sit there and push through? Inspiration is beautiful, imagination divine, and we all love soaring dreams. But sitzfleisch? Ass meat? THAT'S how you write your novel. That's how you compose your symphony. That's how you paint your masterpiece.

Some of us are more fortunate that others, in that we are, shall I say, NATURALLY gifted with an excess of sitzfleisch. (Ahem…) Others of us must build up that boredom-enduring flesh over time. But one way or another, the answer is in your butt.

Sit. Stay. Work. (And every once in a while, stretch.) Repeat.

🙂

Liz

via Elizabeth Gilbert’s Facebook Wall

Some love from Lithuania….

Photos of Elizabeth Gilbert
Hey, Liz!

I've been travelling in Germany and somehow in a little Frankfurt's bookstore I found this "Eat pray love", which cost only 3 euros! It would be a complete sin not to buy this, so of course I did it. Few years ago I've read this amazing book in Lithuanian, but now, having read this in original language, I must admit that everything sounds much better in English. I've been giggling many times (and catching suspicious views in airports, cafes, buses or trains), sometimes I used to burst into tears or just feel like I REALLY understand what you mean.

Thank You and thank God and everything for this amazing story. It has kind of inspired me to carry on on my travels (which only begin), to carry on searching for 'everything' (this word – everything – describes so perfectly that something, what soul really seeks for) and has reminded, that all the beautiful things happen when you really are open to them.

It inspired me to carry on writing my own lifestory (each lifestory is amazing, isn't it?), to concentrate on this moment of life, to enjoy it, and to take myself as I am (and others, too), to simply… Relax and let it flow.

Thanks for sharing all those moments!

Wish You all the best,
greetings from Lithuania (haven't You been there yet?)

Adre

via Elizabeth Gilbert’s Facebook Wall

Want to win an early copy of my new book?

Hey everyone!

Once a month until October , I will be holding contests to give away signed copies of my new book! You can only participate if you are a subscriber to my LizNews email newsletter (where all my most important news is announced first).

Within a week, a new contest will begin, and a new lucky reader will win a (personalized) early coy of "The Signature of All Things". So if you haven't yet signed up for my newsletter, do it today!

You can sign up by clicking on the LizNews app at the top of this page, or you can go to my website, and sign up on the front page there…

https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/

Don't miss a thing, dear ones!

🙂
Liz

Elizabeth Gilbert | Elizabeth Gilbert – The Official Website | ElizabethGilbert.com
www.elizabethgilbert.com
Home to the writer Elizabeth Gilbert. Her new book, The Signature of All Things, coming soon!

via Elizabeth Gilbert’s Facebook Wall