J.R. Johnson

Some of you will have seen this poem, but I fielded a question about it recently and wanted to revisit what is a sometimes painful yet ultimately encouraging truth:

Ever tried.

Ever failed.
No matter.
Try again.
Fail again.
Fail better.
—Samuel Beckett

Not “stop trying.” Not “don’t fail.” Fail better. It’s a sentiment close to the heart of many writers:)