Writers: Give It All Away!

Posted on January 3, 2026 by mitchteemley
Photo © Copyright 2025 – by Mitch Teemley

Writers: Give It All Away

“One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now. The impulse to save something good for a better place later is the signal to spend it now. Something more will arise for later, something better. These things fill from behind, from beneath, like well water. Similarly, the impulse to keep to yourself what you have learned is not only shameful, it is destructive. Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you.” ~Annie Dillard

Give it all away.

φ

About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
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49 Responses to Writers: Give It All Away!

  1. pastorpete51 says:
    January 3, 2026 at 12:02 pm

    Amen! Like the widow’s oil. Pour it out because the only things worthwhile writing come from God and he isn’t running out of ideas!

    Reply
    • seekingdivineperspective says:
      January 3, 2026 at 6:12 pm

      Amen, Pete! I used to worry about running out of things to write about! 🙄 I’m 72, and it hasn’t happened yet. (My favorite t-shirt says it all: “If Being a Christian is Boring, You’re Doing It Wrong. “)

      Reply
  2. Todd R says:
    January 3, 2026 at 12:07 pm

    Thanks for the encouragement. This was timely for me.

    Reply
  4. luisa zambrotta says:
    January 3, 2026 at 12:40 pm

    What a wonderful tip, dear Mitch.
    Thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply
  5. Tom Darby says:
    January 3, 2026 at 12:44 pm

    It’s true.

    Reply
  6. Under the mask.. says:
    January 3, 2026 at 12:49 pm

    I’m glad she put it into words as well as having lived it. Excellent point, Mitch – thank you for that!

    Reply
  7. Catherin J Pascal Dunk says:
    January 3, 2026 at 1:04 pm

    oo I like this! I remember one time when I entered the local competition and didn’t tell any of my writerly friends about it, because: less competition. I got a place in that comp, but one has to wonder if it was merited… These days I share everything, and the more the merrier. Competition is hella overrated. I thought about making a competition for my new form the longette, but couldn’t…so it’s a cooperatition. Let’s keep creating, keep sharing freely. YES!

    Reply
    • Catherin J Pascal Dunk says:
      January 3, 2026 at 1:06 pm

      sometimes I enter a poem for a journal or anthology and they demand exclusivity, so I can’t publish it on my blog. 6 months later, when they reject me without a second thought, I feel cheated and demeaned. but my blog reaches a very limited audience with its 180-odd subscribers. I’d like a few more people to see my stuff sometimes. Thank you for this thought-provoking quote-share post Mitch xo (and belated happy new year)

      Reply
  8. Joey Jones says:
    January 3, 2026 at 1:18 pm

    Yup!!

    Reply
  9. ruthsoaper says:
    January 3, 2026 at 1:20 pm

    This is just what I needed to hear/read.

    Reply
  10. joynealkidney says:
    January 3, 2026 at 2:46 pm

    Amazing, isn’t it!

    Reply
  11. Norman E Peterson says:
    January 3, 2026 at 3:18 pm

    thanks for the reminder mitch. Too many small notes scattered on my desktop with good things that just go unheeded.

    Reply
  12. Darryl B says:
    January 3, 2026 at 3:58 pm

    Mitch, wonderful sentiment 🎯 Hope 2026 is a great one for you 😎

    Reply
  13. Victoria says:
    January 3, 2026 at 4:08 pm

    Love, love, love this! 💝

    Reply
  14. Debi Walter says:
    January 3, 2026 at 5:17 pm

    Thank you Mitch. Timely as I am about to work on my next book in earnest. I’ve been hoarding motivational quips. This one will be one!
    Happy New Year!

    Reply
  15. cheryloreglia says:
    January 3, 2026 at 5:22 pm

    She is one of my all time favorites. Hugs, C

    Reply
  16. קרה אהרן says:
    January 3, 2026 at 5:54 pm

    Speaking as a musician, sometimes parts don’t fit or tracks are rejected. I save them and usuallly find another way to use them.

    Reply
  18. clcouch123 says:
    January 3, 2026 at 8:49 pm

    Thanks for sharing this from Dillard. It’s thought-provoking. I hadn’t considered keeping back parts of writing any more than hoarding them. But to go so far as to say give it all away every time, well, I find that inspiring. I’m drawn to your photograph as well, whose colors above the dark horizon are appealing and also tease thought (as Keats might say).

    Reply
  19. L.G. says:
    January 3, 2026 at 9:02 pm

    I needed to hear that, thanks for sharing

    Reply
  20. Chris G Thelen says:
    January 3, 2026 at 10:24 pm

    Good advice for the New Year, Mitch. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  21. Kara Luker says:
    January 4, 2026 at 9:56 am

    Wow, that stirred something deep, not only for writing but for life. As always, Mitch, thank you!

    Reply

  22. Pingback: Writers: Give It All Away! – QuietMomentsWithGod

  23. Anonymous says:
    January 6, 2026 at 11:10 am

    “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.”
    Proverbs 11:24 (ESV)

    Blessings
    BT

    Reply
  25. Karima Hoisan says:
    January 16, 2026 at 11:41 am

    It’s my “thing” to just give it all away..so…I agree with you Mitch:)

    Reply
  26. PiedType says:
    January 19, 2026 at 4:30 pm

    Excellent advice. I’ve let more than one idea lie fallow until I forgot it or it was replaced by something newer and shinier.

    Reply

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