Quotes from Cecil Murphey

Write what you know. Write what you want to know more about. Write what you're afraid to write about.

If you really want to find your voice, your goal is to journey toward inner wholeness--which is what life is about anyway. It involves self-acceptance and genuine self-respect. from Unleash the Writer Within

That is, if I understand God's abounding love and grasp that God forgives me even though I don't deserve it, the realization produces one powerful result: I forgive others. On every level and no matter how superficially or deeply I was hurt.

If God inspires your writing, others will know because it will inspire them when they read it.

I wish I could say that I'm totally healed; but that would be a lie. This much I can say: I'm as straightforward and transparent as I'm capable of being. In the recovery process, I've searched relentlessly for total healing. I don't know if that labels me quick or slow, truly open or slightly self-deceived.

I could conceive of them as evil, monstrous, and devoid of decency. Or I could think of them as men and sometimes women who are so controlled by their pain, they're unable to care enough about the people they hurt to be able to change their reprehensible behavior.

I'm learning that I have to practice forgiveness, and sometimes it feels as if I have to do it moment by moment. Whenever the trigger gets pulled or the cloud of shame descends, I'm learning to see it as an invitation to forgive. My negative reaction means I'm aware of my lack of releasing my grudge or pain against them. It also means I can learn to let go of the hurts they caused.

to write only when you're inspired devalues the craft and defies your need to learn and improve. If you're committed to excellence in writing, you accept responsibility to do everything you can for your own self-improvement.

Good writing demands self-discipline and constant learning