Thomas Edison's Words of Wisdom

Living in New Jersey, you cannot grow up without taking a class trip at some point to Edison's workshop in Edison, NJ. At that point in time, many years ago, one thing stuck in my mind: the black bread on his desk. They had left everything on Edison's desk as it was on the day he died, including an old piece of bread that had turned black over the years.

Years later it would be a quote of Edison's that always stuck with me. It had taken 10,000 attempts for Edison to make the first light bulb. When asked how he felt about his 10,000 "failures", Edison replied, "I didn't fail. I found 10,000 ways not to make a light bulb."

My next door neighbor (who has since gone to God herself) used to work for Edison. Her response to working for this icon? He was a slob, she said, he used to spit on the floor. That image amused me, rather than horrified me. It humanized the man and enmeshed him more in the time period. I could see him missing the spittoon and then just not even caring after a while.

All this goes back to writing. What may seem like insignificant details about a person, may add a whole new dimension to their personality.

Einstein's quote should be laminated and framed and hung over the computer of every single writer out there. I'm sick of reading about writers who keep their rejection notes on a blackboard or in a book. Who needs such glaring negativity? Unless the note is personalized and contains constructive feedback that you can apply to your writing, there is only one place that rejection letter should go after opened: the shredder. Why are so many writers so masochistic? They write it inspires them. To me, that's like having an angry nun smacking you with a ruler when you color outside the lines or write with your left hand (I'm Catholic, its just an archaic metaphor. . .) You should note somewhere you heard back from them on a list and then CHUCK IT. Be freed of it. Amen.

Then start living by Einstein's philosophy, try to find the other ways to sell your writing. Find what works and what doesn't. If it takes 10,000 tries, so be it. How many light bulbs are in your house right now? Imagine if every home in America had that many pieces of YOUR writing? Hmmmm. . .

Could happen. It happened to Stephen King. He was a substitute teacher, living in a trailer. Look at him now.

Finally, Einstein's workshop is now frozen in time. What moments do you want to freeze in time? Write them. Make them live forever.

Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE