Writing Quotes | Beyond Motive 11/25

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Writing Quotes

"The individual, man as a man, man as a brain, if you like, interests me more than what he makes, because I've noticed that most artists only repeat themselves."

"The individual, man as a man, man as a brain, if you like, interests me more than what he makes, because I've noticed that most artists only repeat themselves."

Marcel Duchamp, French Artist

Writing, Artists, Man

9

"I know I was writing stories when I was five. I don't know what I did before that. Just loafed I suppose."

"I know I was writing stories when I was five. I don't know what I did before that. Just loafed I suppose."

P. G. Wodehouse, English Writer

9

"All my stories are webs of style and none seems at first blush to contain much kinetic matter. For me style is matter."

"All my stories are webs of style and none seems at first blush to contain much kinetic matter. For me style is matter."

Vladimir Nabokov, American Novelist

Writing, Blush, First, Style

9

"Poe is the only impeccable writer. He was never mistaken."

"Poe is the only impeccable writer. He was never mistaken."

Paul Valery, French Poet

Writing, Writer

9

"It is Homer who has chiefly taught other poets the art of telling lies skillfully."

"It is Homer who has chiefly taught other poets the art of telling lies skillfully."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Writing, Art, Lies, Poets

9

"I've been writing in notebooks for 40 years or so."

"I've been writing in notebooks for 40 years or so."

Frank McCourt, Irish Author

9

"People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and backache and notes and more time and more work than you'd believe."

"People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and backache and notes and more time and more work than you'd believe."

Neil Gaiman, British Author

Writing, Work, Creativity, Effort

9

"His passion has aroused the best and the beast in man. And the beast waited for him in the kitchen."

"His passion has aroused the best and the beast in man. And the beast waited for him in the kitchen."

Theodore White, American Journalist

Writing, Kitchen, Man, Passion

9

"It is not about writing those hits again. I am sure I could write them, but it is about the sensibilities."

"It is not about writing those hits again. I am sure I could write them, but it is about the sensibilities."

Alison Moyet, British Musician

9

"If you can't annoy somebody, there's little point in writing."

"If you can't annoy somebody, there's little point in writing."

Kingsley Amis, English Novelist

9

"Don't let characters talk pointlessly-they only talk if there's something to say."

"Don't let characters talk pointlessly-they only talk if there's something to say."

Diana Gabaldon, American Author

Writing, Dialogue, Purpose, Clarity

9

"I'm like a junkie for writing."

"I'm like a junkie for writing."

Gavin DeGraw, American Musician

9

"Keep writing, because not only does practice improve skill, it gives you more chances to score on the market. I did that for eight years before making my first sale."

"Keep writing, because not only does practice improve skill, it gives you more chances to score on the market. I did that for eight years before making my first sale."

Piers Anthony, English Writer

Writing, First, Practice, Skill

9

"The first writers are first and the rest, in the long run, nowhere but in anthologies."

"The first writers are first and the rest, in the long run, nowhere but in anthologies."

Carl Van Doren, American Author

Writing, First, Rest, Writers

9

"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

9

"I think the hardest part of writing is revising. And by that I mean the following: A novelist has to create the piece of marble and then chip away to find the figure in it."

"I think the hardest part of writing is revising. And by that I mean the following: A novelist has to create the piece of marble and then chip away to find the figure in it."

Chaim Potok, American Author

9

"You never realize what a good memory you have until you try to forget something."

"You never realize what a good memory you have until you try to forget something."

Franklin P. Jones, American Journalist

Writing, Forget, Memory

9

"If a writer has to rob his mother, he will not hesitate: The "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is worth any number of old ladies."

"If a writer has to rob his mother, he will not hesitate: The "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is worth any number of old ladies."

William Faulkner, American Novelist

Writing, Mother, Ladies, Old, Will

9

"Cliches and adjectives permeated my prose."

"Cliches and adjectives permeated my prose."

Dick Schaap, American Journalist

Writing, Cliches, Prose

9

"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

9

"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

9

"Pointing out the emotion in a scene is like laughing at your own jokes."

"Pointing out the emotion in a scene is like laughing at your own jokes."

Diana Gabaldon, American Author

Writing, Emotion, Subtlety, Art

9

"Writing sharpens life, life enriches writing."

"Writing sharpens life, life enriches writing."

Sylvia Plath, American Poet

Writing, Life, Reflection, Creativity

9

"Sometimes I get worried I'm getting too caught up in the nauseatingly oily smoothness of my own line, when all I'm trying to do is make it as clear as possible."

"Sometimes I get worried I'm getting too caught up in the nauseatingly oily smoothness of my own line, when all I'm trying to do is make it as clear as possible."

Chris Ware, American Artist

Writing, Trying

9

"Any suggestion that I'm writing about political operatives because I'm interested in political operatives misses the entire point."

"Any suggestion that I'm writing about political operatives because I'm interested in political operatives misses the entire point."

Bob Woodward, American Journalist

9

"I noticed this process of waking, and predicted with terrifying logic that one of these years not far away I would be awake continuously and never slip back, and never be free of myself again."

"I noticed this process of waking, and predicted with terrifying logic that one of these years not far away I would be awake continuously and never slip back, and never be free of myself again."

Annie Dillard, American Author

Writing, Logic, Waking, Years

9

"The great writer evokes the words that buried within hearts of readers."

"The great writer evokes the words that buried within hearts of readers."

Toba Beta, Indonesian Author

Writing, Expression, Truth, Power, Wisdom

9

"I had this really great amazing thing happen where I almost finished the book and I really needed to come up with an ending and I decided to go back and re-read the book and see if I could come up with an ending."

"I had this really great amazing thing happen where I almost finished the book and I really needed to come up with an ending and I decided to go back and re-read the book and see if I could come up with an ending."

Cory Doctorow, Canadian Journalist

Writing, Ending

9

"I honestly feel like we never had a bad episode by TV standards. Every week I felt there were so many strong components of the show, especially the writing."

"I honestly feel like we never had a bad episode by TV standards. Every week I felt there were so many strong components of the show, especially the writing."

Donal Logue, Canadian Actor

9

"I write when the urge hits me, getting the words down as fast as I can type and then I step back from what I just wrote and start a dialectical process where I begin challenging my own writing."

"I write when the urge hits me, getting the words down as fast as I can type and then I step back from what I just wrote and start a dialectical process where I begin challenging my own writing."

Donald McKay, Canadian Designer

9

"I'm terrible at story and structure, but I'm not so bad at writing dialogue."

"I'm terrible at story and structure, but I'm not so bad at writing dialogue."

Steve Buscemi, American Actor

9

"Well, they each seem to do one thing well enough, but fail to realize that literature depends on doing several things well at the same time."

"Well, they each seem to do one thing well enough, but fail to realize that literature depends on doing several things well at the same time."

Julian Barnes, English Writer

Writing, Literature, Skill, Creativity, Observation

9

"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

9

"My lyrics are generated by various peculiar processes. Very random and similar to automatic writing."

"My lyrics are generated by various peculiar processes. Very random and similar to automatic writing."

Brian Eno, British Musician

9

"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

9

"The encouragement I got from Campbell was a quick check and praise. Once the Space Beagle was launched on its mission, it seemed natural for it to breed additional thoughts."

"The encouragement I got from Campbell was a quick check and praise. Once the Space Beagle was launched on its mission, it seemed natural for it to breed additional thoughts."

A. E. van Vogt, Canadian Author

Writing, Thoughts, Encouragement, Mission, Praise

9

"How to write a book? Start writing,continue writing and finish writing."

"How to write a book? Start writing,continue writing and finish writing."

Bangambiki Habyarimana, Rwandan Author

Writing, Process, Effort, Creation

9

"I have likened writing a novel to going on a journey, with some notion of the destination I will arrive at, but not the whole picture - which emerges gradually as a series of revelations, as the journey goes along."

"I have likened writing a novel to going on a journey, with some notion of the destination I will arrive at, but not the whole picture - which emerges gradually as a series of revelations, as the journey goes along."

Rose Tremain, English Novelist

Writing, Journey, Will

9

"I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English, it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them, then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart. An adjective habit, or a wordy, diffuse, flowery habit, once fastened upon a person, is as hard to get rid of as any other vice."

"I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English, it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them, then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart. An adjective habit, or a wordy, diffuse, flowery habit, once fastened upon a person, is as hard to get rid of as any other vice."

Mark Twain, American Author

Writing, Language, Style, Advice

9

"A writer gets to live yet another life every time she creates a new story."

"A writer gets to live yet another life every time she creates a new story."

Pawan Mishra, Indian Author

Writing, Imagination, Identity, Creation

9

"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

9

"I've never shown anybody a draft of anything."

"I've never shown anybody a draft of anything."

Shelby Foote, American Author

9

"Fiction is the truth inside the lie."

"Fiction is the truth inside the lie."

Stephen King, American Author

Writing, Truth, Lie, Fiction

9

"Perhaps that suspicion of fraud enhances the flavor."

"Perhaps that suspicion of fraud enhances the flavor."

C. S. Forester, English Novelist

Writing, Fraud, Suspicion

9

"I find it both fascinating and disconcerting when I discover yet another person who believes that writing can't be taught. Frankly, I don't understand this point of view."

"I find it both fascinating and disconcerting when I discover yet another person who believes that writing can't be taught. Frankly, I don't understand this point of view."

Elizabeth George, American Author

9

"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

9

"There's a difference between writing for a living and writing for life. If you write for a living, you make enormous compromises....If you write for life, you'll work hard; you'll do what's honest, not what pays."

"There's a difference between writing for a living and writing for life. If you write for a living, you make enormous compromises....If you write for life, you'll work hard; you'll do what's honest, not what pays."

Toni Morrison, American Novelist

Writing, Integrity, Honesty, Creativity

9

"And before I'd got to the end of the first paragraph, I'd come up slap bang against a fundamental problem that still troubles me today whenever I begin a story, and it's this: where am I telling it from?"

"And before I'd got to the end of the first paragraph, I'd come up slap bang against a fundamental problem that still troubles me today whenever I begin a story, and it's this: where am I telling it from?"

Philip Pullman, British Writer

Writing, End, First, Today

9

"Literary Agent: "I meant manuscript wise.Tina: "Ohh. Um, yes. I've brought a few with me, just some rough drafts. (shuffle, shuffle) You might say something of an experiment."

"Literary Agent: "I meant manuscript wise.Tina: "Ohh. Um, yes. I've brought a few with me, just some rough drafts. (shuffle, shuffle) You might say something of an experiment."

Christina Engela, South African Author

Writing, Creativity, Literature, Art

9

"I accept challenges, I have always done that in writing."

"I accept challenges, I have always done that in writing."

Jack Prelutsky, American Poet

9

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