Writing Quotes | Beyond Motive 11/27

top of page

Writing Quotes

"I think the writing on the wall is definitely there this year that this is probably our last year."

"I think the writing on the wall is definitely there this year that this is probably our last year."

Michael Shanks, Canadian Actor

30

"I would still like to have that luxury, to be able to just sit and draw for hours and hours and hours. In a way, that's what I do as a writer."

"I would still like to have that luxury, to be able to just sit and draw for hours and hours and hours. In a way, that's what I do as a writer."

Amy Tan, American Novelist

Writing, Luxury, Writer

30

"I will say that Rick will probably die before the end of the book. I'll go ahead and put that in print. Nobody's safe. I've almost killed him three times already."

"I will say that Rick will probably die before the end of the book. I'll go ahead and put that in print. Nobody's safe. I've almost killed him three times already."

Robert Kirkman, American Writer

Writing, End, Will

30

"The good writing ideas don't have to be about political turmoil, mass killings, capitalism, racism, injustice, etc. Find that one idea that has deep roots in your heart."

"The good writing ideas don't have to be about political turmoil, mass killings, capitalism, racism, injustice, etc. Find that one idea that has deep roots in your heart."

Pawan Mishra, Indian Author

Writing, Heart, Authenticity, Inspirational

30

"I'm a fast writer."

"I'm a fast writer."

Terry McMillan, American Author

Writing, Writer

30

"There are few experiences as depressing as that anxious barren state known as writer's block, where you sit staring at your blank page like a cadaver, feeling your mind congeal, feeling you talent run down your leg and into your sock."

"There are few experiences as depressing as that anxious barren state known as writer's block, where you sit staring at your blank page like a cadaver, feeling your mind congeal, feeling you talent run down your leg and into your sock."

Anne Lamott, American Author

Writing, Creativity, Anxiety, Depression

30

"Before trying a novel I wrote a couple of plays."

"Before trying a novel I wrote a couple of plays."

James Merrill, American Poet

Writing, Trying

30

"The space where I write is in my head, I suppose."

"The space where I write is in my head, I suppose."

Sara Sheridan, Scottish Author

Writing, Mind, Creativity, Imagination

30

"I am, really, a great writer; my only difficulty is in finding great readers."

"I am, really, a great writer; my only difficulty is in finding great readers."

Frank Harris, Irish Author

Writing, Difficulty, Writer

30

"Never read bad stuff if you're an artist; it will impair your own game."

"Never read bad stuff if you're an artist; it will impair your own game."

James Lee Burke, American Author

Writing, Artist, Will

30

"I started trying to write when I was in second or third grade."

"I started trying to write when I was in second or third grade."

Margaret Haddix, American Author

Writing, Trying

30

"Writers of novels live in a strange world where what's made up is as important as what's real."

"Writers of novels live in a strange world where what's made up is as important as what's real."

Sara Sheridan, Scottish Author

Writing, World, Reality, Imagination, Importance

30

"What writing does is to reveal."

"What writing does is to reveal."

Rita Dove, American Poet

30

"This motion-picture muddle had distracted me from my writing."

"This motion-picture muddle had distracted me from my writing."

Zane Grey, American Author

30

"I have one word to say upon the subject of profound writers, who are grown very numerous of late; and I know very well the judicious world is resolved to list me in that number. I conceive therefore, as to the business of being profound, that it is with writers as with wells; a person with good eyes may see to the bottom of the deepest, provided any water be there; and often, when there is nothing in the world at the bottom, besides dryness and dirt, though it be but a yard and half under ground, it shall pass however for wondrous deep, upon no wiser a reason than because it is wondrous dark."

"I have one word to say upon the subject of profound writers, who are grown very numerous of late; and I know very well the judicious world is resolved to list me in that number. I conceive therefore, as to the business of being profound, that it is with writers as with wells; a person with good eyes may see to the bottom of the deepest, provided any water be there; and often, when there is nothing in the world at the bottom, besides dryness and dirt, though it be but a yard and half under ground, it shall pass however for wondrous deep, upon no wiser a reason than because it is wondrous dark."

Jonathan Swift, Irish Writer

Writing, Truth, Observation, Creativity

30

"I usually do one con a year as a GoH and try to make the World Fantasy Convention for business purposes. Last year I went to a worldcon for the first time in two decades. I may go again this year."

"I usually do one con a year as a GoH and try to make the World Fantasy Convention for business purposes. Last year I went to a worldcon for the first time in two decades. I may go again this year."

Alan Dean Foster, American Author

Writing, Business, Time, Fantasy, First

29

"And so The Snow Queen also became a story about the need to seek equilibrium, in our own lives, with the natural world, even within the universe at large."

"And so The Snow Queen also became a story about the need to seek equilibrium, in our own lives, with the natural world, even within the universe at large."

Joan D. Vinge, American Author

Writing, Queen, Snow, Universe, World

29

"Novel writing wrecks homes."

"Novel writing wrecks homes."

C. S. Forester, English Novelist

29

"You know, it's absolutely connected to The Mollusk in that, it's what we're writing after The Mollusk. A lot of this stuff reminds me of things on The Mollusk."

"You know, it's absolutely connected to The Mollusk in that, it's what we're writing after The Mollusk. A lot of this stuff reminds me of things on The Mollusk."

Gene Ween, American Musician

29

"I never intended to be a professional writer; as the story developed, the one thing I had in my hopes was that this would be something tangible to separate me from the nameless, numbered masses."

"I never intended to be a professional writer; as the story developed, the one thing I had in my hopes was that this would be something tangible to separate me from the nameless, numbered masses."

R. A. Salvatore, American Author

Writing, Writer

29

"I'm not sure why writing for others became harder. Probably a reluctance to give away anything you might conceivably use yourself caused a block. I did it, but it remained hard when it had once been easy."

"I'm not sure why writing for others became harder. Probably a reluctance to give away anything you might conceivably use yourself caused a block. I did it, but it remained hard when it had once been easy."

Dick Cavett, American Entertainer

29

"I do have trouble with titles."

"I do have trouble with titles."

Jim Harrison, American Writer

Writing, Titles, Trouble

29

"The material came bubbling up inside like a geyser or an oil gusher. It streamed up of its own accord, down my arm and out of my fountain pen in a torrent of six thousand words a day."

"The material came bubbling up inside like a geyser or an oil gusher. It streamed up of its own accord, down my arm and out of my fountain pen in a torrent of six thousand words a day."

C. S. Forester, English Novelist

Writing, Day, Oil, Pen, Words

29

"Write a page a day. It will add up."

"Write a page a day. It will add up."

Herman Wouk, American Novelist

Writing, Day, Will

29

"Writers who have nothing to say always strain for metaphors to say it in."

"Writers who have nothing to say always strain for metaphors to say it in."

Florence King, American Writer

Writing, Metaphors, Nothing, Writers

29

"I spent my first twenty years in Morocco, where I coached the national team."

"I spent my first twenty years in Morocco, where I coached the national team."

Just Fontaine, French Athlete

Writing, First, Years

29

"By now, it is probably very late at night, and you have stayed up to read this book when you should have gone to sleep. If this is the case, then I commend you for falling into my trap. It is a writer's greatest pleasure to hear that someone was kept up until the unholy hours of the morning reading one of his books. It goes back to authors being terrible people who delight in the suffering of others. Plus, we get a kickback from the caffeine industry..."

"By now, it is probably very late at night, and you have stayed up to read this book when you should have gone to sleep. If this is the case, then I commend you for falling into my trap. It is a writer's greatest pleasure to hear that someone was kept up until the unholy hours of the morning reading one of his books. It goes back to authors being terrible people who delight in the suffering of others. Plus, we get a kickback from the caffeine industry..."

Brandon Sanderson, American Author

Writing, Humor, Sacrifice, Reading

29

"Writing on a contract for a major studio you get the very best."

"Writing on a contract for a major studio you get the very best."

Terry Southern, American Writer

29

"I started writing stories as a child."

"I started writing stories as a child."

Danielle Steel, American Novelist

29

"If typos are God's way of keeping a writer humble, plot holes certainly keeps one on their knees."

"If typos are God's way of keeping a writer humble, plot holes certainly keeps one on their knees."

E.A. Bucchianeri, American Author

Writing, Humility, Perfection, Truth

29

"Any writer worth the name is always getting into one thing or getting out of another thing."

"Any writer worth the name is always getting into one thing or getting out of another thing."

Fannie Hurst, American Writer

Writing, Name, Worth

29

"We were so fundamental that almost everything had been stripped away from the place of worship. Think of the role words can play, when all other enticements and sensual attractions are gone."

"We were so fundamental that almost everything had been stripped away from the place of worship. Think of the role words can play, when all other enticements and sensual attractions are gone."

James D. Houston, American Writer

Writing, Play, Words, Worship

29

"I don't recall having any self-awareness about the intricacy of my stories."

"I don't recall having any self-awareness about the intricacy of my stories."

A. E. van Vogt, Canadian Author

29

"I started thinking about my relationship with my students; I'm this guy who comes in from book - and movie - land and descends on angel wings into their classroom."

"I started thinking about my relationship with my students; I'm this guy who comes in from book - and movie - land and descends on angel wings into their classroom."

Richard Price, American Writer

Writing, Classroom, Land, Students, Thinking

29

"You are here to be fully alive. Your expression is needed. Don't hold back."

"You are here to be fully alive. Your expression is needed. Don't hold back."

Renae A. Sauter, American Writer

Writing, Expression, Life, Freedom, Voice

29

"I would teach from nine to four, sleep an hour, and write from six until midnight, night after night."

"I would teach from nine to four, sleep an hour, and write from six until midnight, night after night."

Marguerite Young, American Author

Writing, Midnight, Sleep

29

"I had been writing professionally since 1988."

"I had been writing professionally since 1988."

Laura Hillenbrand, American Author

29

"Writing as a woman presents enormous problems but I have attempted it several times and haven't had many complaints."

"Writing as a woman presents enormous problems but I have attempted it several times and haven't had many complaints."

Jim Harrison, American Writer

Writing, Complaints, Problems, Woman

29

"And I tend to listen to NPR when I'm not writing."

"And I tend to listen to NPR when I'm not writing."

Augusten Burroughs, American Writer

29

"Of course, the way writers think about those things is almost certain to be affected by their own cultural background, and it would be hard to deny that, for whatever reasons, a lot of SF writers come from Anglo or European backgrounds."

"Of course, the way writers think about those things is almost certain to be affected by their own cultural background, and it would be hard to deny that, for whatever reasons, a lot of SF writers come from Anglo or European backgrounds."

Stanley Schmidt, American Writer

Writing, Writers

29

"My theory was that what I had to do was make a study of human behavior."

"My theory was that what I had to do was make a study of human behavior."

A. E. van Vogt, Canadian Author

Writing, Behavior, Study, Theory

29

"When I was about 14 or 15 I decided to become a writer and never for a moment since have I wanted to do anything else."

"When I was about 14 or 15 I decided to become a writer and never for a moment since have I wanted to do anything else."

Tobias Wolff, American Writer

28

"I want my prose to be as clear as a pane of glass."

"I want my prose to be as clear as a pane of glass."

Tracy Kidder, American Author

Writing, Prose, Want

28

"That wasn't a bad price for a first book. My agent upped it as much as possible. I was 27 and had nothing behind me. I was working like a fool to earn a living and pay for my apartment."

"That wasn't a bad price for a first book. My agent upped it as much as possible. I was 27 and had nothing behind me. I was working like a fool to earn a living and pay for my apartment."

Patricia Highsmith, American Novelist

Writing, First, Fool, Living, Nothing

28

"I wrote a novel about the combat experiences I didn't have in Vietnam."

"I wrote a novel about the combat experiences I didn't have in Vietnam."

Tracy Kidder, American Author

Writing, Vietnam

28

"You know what you are best at, and writing is just not my thing, but I like it."

"You know what you are best at, and writing is just not my thing, but I like it."

Sara Gilbert, American Actress

28

"Major writing is to say what has been seen, so that it need never be said again."

"Major writing is to say what has been seen, so that it need never be said again."

Delmore Schwartz, American Poet

28

"It's just so much fun to make up characters, situations, and everything else about a story. I have so much freedom and flexibility to do whatever I want."

"It's just so much fun to make up characters, situations, and everything else about a story. I have so much freedom and flexibility to do whatever I want."

Margaret Haddix, American Author

Writing, Flexibility, Freedom, Fun, Want

28

"At one point I intended to write precursor and sequel novels, about the establishment of the Web and its next evolution, but I am very unlikely to now; they would take place in a different universe."

"At one point I intended to write precursor and sequel novels, about the establishment of the Web and its next evolution, but I am very unlikely to now; they would take place in a different universe."

John M. Ford, American Writer

Writing, Evolution, Now, Universe

28

"In The States I would have no edge, no advantage at all."

"In The States I would have no edge, no advantage at all."

Nigel Dennis, British Writer

Writing, States

28

bottom of page