Few writers are willing to admit writing is autobiographical. Terry McMillan More Quotes by Terry McMillan More Quotes From Terry McMillan Being a lifetime wife and mother has afforded me the luxury of having multiple careers: I've been a teacher. A chauffeur. A chef. An interior decorator. A landscape architect, as well as a gardener. I’ve been a painter. A personal shopper. An accountant and a banker. I’ve been a beautician. Santa Claus. The Tooth Fairy. A movie reviewer. A nurse. A psychologist. A negotiator. An I have a Ph. D in How to Pretend Like You Don’t Mind. Terry McMillan careers mother teacher If you jump to conclusions, you make terrible landings. Terry McMillan landing conclusion terrible Writing is my shelter. I don't hide behind the words; I use them to dig inside my heart to find the truth. Terry McMillan use heart writing Too many of us are hung up on what we don't have, can't have, or won't ever have. We spend too much energy being down, when we could use that same energy – if not less of it – doing, or at least trying to do, some of the things we really want to do. Terry McMillan energy success trying I'm the only one who can stop me.. I'm the one who's been sitting at the stoplight all these years, waiting for the light to turn green. Terry McMillan light waiting years It's amazing how we can make ourselves believe what we want to. Terry McMillan want believe Pay attention to the things that agitate you. It will tell you a lot about yourself. Terry McMillan about-yourself pay attention Writing is the only place I can be myself and not feel judged. Terry McMillan i-can writing feels People like to run their mouths. Terry McMillan mouths running people As a writer, you get to bring attention to something without preaching. I don't believe in being didactic. So if you dramatize something, you automatically bring attention to it if people read it. Terry McMillan attention believe people I would like to think that as a result of not just my own experiences, but at least being empathetic and compassionate about other people's experiences and plights and tragedies, that I am affected by it and learn from it. Terry McMillan tragedy people thinking Write from your heart, and God will take care of the rest. Terry McMillan care heart writing Parents can ruin children, and sometimes that's a learned behavior. Sometimes you can't blame your parents for it, sometimes you can. I think to me, that's what the whole paradox is, is people that have children that don't even know how to raise them. Terry McMillan children people thinking don't sabotage your own greatness by succumbing to failure! Terry McMillan succumbing sabotage greatness I like to think of what happens to characters in good novels and stories as knots--things keep knotting up. And by the end of the story--readers see an unknotting of sorts. Not what you expect, not the easy answers you get on TV, not wash and wear philosophies, but a reproduction of believable, emotional experiences. Terry McMillan emotional character philosophy Folks want to glow, to leave their worries and dead skin behind. Terry McMillan skins want worry Let me put it this way: when I read, I learned the world was not as small as my house. And that everybody in my home town was not representative of the way people in the world were raised. And that was what saved me. Terry McMillan house home people money does not guarantee happiness or peace of mind, it can take your mind off things, distract you, but it can't replace the generic stuff a person needs! Terry McMillan mind doe needs It goes without saying that your friends are usually the first to discuss your personal business behind your back. Terry McMillan behind-your-back behinds firsts I remember the day I turned thirty. I was getting out of the shower and I stood in front of the mirror and stared at myself for a long time. I examined every inch of my body and appreciated the fact that I finally looked like a grown woman. I also assumed that this was how I was going to look for the rest of my life. The way I saw it, I was never going to age; I'd just look up one day and be old. Terry McMillan mirrors age long
