“Arrange whatever pieces come your way.”

—

—Virginia Woolf

This is writing for me. It’s arranging my pieces, sorting the life-notes jotted on post-its and old receipts and worship bulletins, and making sense of my experiences.

I think Woolf’s making two strong suggestions here:

1. "Arrange." Don’t live an unexamined life. Categorize, sort, meditate.

2. "Arrange whatever pieces.” Don’t think that because your pieces seem insignificant they must be. Embrace what you have. Make the most of what you’ve been given. Write what you know. [Insert cliched expression here]

This is good advice for writing. Excellent advice for living.