How often is my timing this good? Via Brandywine Books, this statement and interesting viewpoint from Donald Hall on Poets.Org.:
"1. I see no reason to spend your life writing poems unless your goal is to write great poems. . . If our goal in life is to remain content, no ambition is sensible. If our goal is to write poetry, the only way we are likely to be any good is to try to be as great as the best."
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology
I don’t know, Susan, his advice puts a lot of pressure on the poet and brings out all my perfectionist, anal retentive traits. It’s not advice I could personally take to heart or I’d stop writing, drawing, painting, because I don’t believe what I do is of the highest quality. I think it’s better to strive to do the best you can do that day.
It’s just one point of view, and will work for some–not all, as it is a “strive for perfection, nothing less will do” attitude. I think the point is that we each, with age and experience in particular, find our own comfort levels and decide for ourselves what will drive us to whatever level we wish to assume.