"But writing is a queer business. If one does anything that is sharp and keep enough to go over the line, to get itself with the work that is taken seriously, one has to have had either an unusual knowledge of or a peculiar sympathy with the characters one handles. One can't write about what one most admires always-you must, by some accident, have seen into your character very deeply, and it is this accident of intense realization of him that give your writing about him tone and distinction, that lifts it above the commonplace, in other words."

Writing, Art, Character, Creation

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"But writing is a queer business. If one does anything that is sharp and keep enough to go over the line, to get itself with the work that is taken seriously, one has to have had either an unusual knowledge of or a peculiar sympathy with the characters one handles. One can't write about what one most admires always-you must, by some accident, have seen into your character very deeply, and it is this accident of intense realization of him that give your writing about him tone and distinction, that lifts it above the commonplace, in other words."

Exlpore more Writing quotes

"Copywriters, journalists, mainstream authors, ghostwriters, bloggers and advertising creatives have as much right to think of themselves as good writers as academics, poets, or literary novelists."

Sara Sheridan, Scottish Author

Writing, Creativity, Identity, Profession

"A true piece of writing sets you free."

A. D. Posey, American Poet

Writing, Freedom, Creativity, Expression

"You are the writer of your life story, so don't forget to write the best one."

Debasish Mridha, American Author

Writing, Story, Life, Creation, Self

"If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered."

Stephen King, American Author

Writing, Truth, Honesty, Society

"Through writing, an author opens the window of his heart through which a reader can see the inner self of the author."

Debasish Mridha, American Author

Writing, Heart

"Writing means not just staring ugliness in the face, but finding a way to embrace it."

Veronica Roth, American Author

Writing, Truth, Reality, Acceptance

"Write about the beauty of rainbows and the glint of reflected light that can enlighten readers' minds."

Debasish Mridha, American Author

Writing, Beauty, Rainbows, Light

"Writing is a great way of talking with an endless audience for never-ending time."

Debasish Mridha, American Author

Writing, Talking, Audience, Creation

"What is your advice to young writers? "Drink, fuck and smoke plenty of cigarettes."

Charles Bukowski, American Author

Writing, Advice, Cynicism, Creativity, Life

"All writing is rewriting."

John Green, American Author

Writing, Creativity, Truth, Art

Explore more quotes by Willa Cather

"Desire is creation, is the magical element in that process. If there were an instrument by which to measure desire, one could foretell achievement."

Achievement

"That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great."

Happiness

"To note an artist's limitations is but to define his talent. A reporter can write equally well about everything that is presented to his view, but a creative writer can do his best only with what lies within the range and character of his deepest sympathies."

Talent

"A work-room should be like an old shoe; no matter how shabby, it's better than a new one."

Work

"I suppose the test of one's decency is how much of a fight one can put up after one has stopped caring, and after one has found that one can never please the people they wanted to please."

Character

"Of all the bewildering things about a new country, the absence of human landmarks is one of the most depressing and disheartening."

Absence

"No one can build his security upon the nobleness of another person."

Security

"As in most families, the mere struggle to have anything of one's own, to be one's self at all, creates an element of strain that keeps everybody almost at the breaking point."

Independence

"Miracles... seem to me to rest not so much upon... healing power coming suddenly near us from afar but upon our perceptions being made finer, so that, for a moment, our eyes can see and our ears can hear what is there around us always."

Faith

"And I advise ye to think well, he told her It's better to be a stray dog in this world than a man without money. I've tried it both ways, and I know. A poor man stinks, and God hates him."

Poverty