Good day, readers. Today is June 20th, the 172nd day of the year 2024, with 194 days remaining.
The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.
Ernest Hemingway
Today in Literary History:
On this day in 1905, Lillian Hellman, an American dramatist and screenwriter known for her success as a playwright on Broadway, was born. Her notable works include The Children’s Hour and The Little Foxes, both of which are celebrated for their intense exploration of human morality and social justice.
Notable Birthdays:
Jean-Paul Sartre, born on June 20, 1905, was a French philosopher, playwright, and novelist. He was one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism and phenomenology. His works, such as Nausea and Being and Nothingness, have profoundly influenced modern thought and literature.
Today’s Readings:
From The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood: “Better never means better for everyone… It always means worse, for some.”
Literary Fact of the Day:
On June 20th, 1893, Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the murders of her father and stepmother. This case has fascinated the public and inspired numerous books, plays, and films, including The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson and the play Blood Relations by Sharon Pollock, reflecting on themes of justice, crime, and societal norms.
Poem of the Day:
“The Journey” by Mary Oliver:
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.
Mary Oliver’s poem celebrates the courage it takes to follow one’s own path, even when faced with doubt and adversity. Its message of personal strength and self-discovery makes it a fitting reflection for today’s theme of resilience and transformation.
Advice for Writers:
Inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s words about strength in broken places, consider how the challenges and hardships faced by your characters can shape their development and resilience. Explore how moments of vulnerability can lead to profound growth and insight, adding depth and authenticity to your narratives.
Have a day of insightful reading and empowering writing, dear readers. Until tomorrow, may your literary journeys be as bold and transformative as the paths you carve for your characters.
Being from nearby Fall River, Massachusetts, I heard WAY too much about Lizzie Borden as a youngster…
Having been born and raised in New York, her name barely came up. lol