Writing Quotes | Beyond Motive 19/27

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Writing Quotes

"A great writer picks up on those things that matter. It's almost like their radar is attuned to the most significant moments."

"A great writer picks up on those things that matter. It's almost like their radar is attuned to the most significant moments."

Alain de Botton, English Writer

Writing, Significance, Observation, Moment

13

"I've always considered writing the most hateful kind of work. I suspect it's a bit like fucking, which is only fun for amateurs. Old whores don't do much giggling."

"I've always considered writing the most hateful kind of work. I suspect it's a bit like fucking, which is only fun for amateurs. Old whores don't do much giggling."

Hunter S. Thompson, American Journalist

Writing, Work, Art, Honesty

13

"I'm a method writer. In order to write about the emotion, I have to experience it. I get physically tired and exhausted, devoting hours and hours and hours to it."

"I'm a method writer. In order to write about the emotion, I have to experience it. I get physically tired and exhausted, devoting hours and hours and hours to it."

Sherman Alexie, American Writer

Writing, Emotion, Process, Art

13

"I don't get writer's block because I don't believe in it. I believe you sit in front of the computer and force your fingers to get something on the screen."

"I don't get writer's block because I don't believe in it. I believe you sit in front of the computer and force your fingers to get something on the screen."

Janet Evanovich, American Novelist

Writing, Discipline, Creativity, Motivational

13

"Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke."

"Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke."

F. Scott Fitzgerald, American Author

Writing, Communication, Humor, Style

13

"They could not write their names, but I can write mine, and I will again, somewhere where it will last for a long, long time. I will find Ky, and then I will find that place."

"They could not write their names, but I can write mine, and I will again, somewhere where it will last for a long, long time. I will find Ky, and then I will find that place."

Ally Condie, American Author

Writing, Identity, Freedom, Persistence

13

"A writer need not devour a whole sheep in order to know what mutton tastes like, but he must at least eat a chop. Unless he gets his facts right, his imagination will lead him into all kinds of nonsense, and the facts he is most likely to get right are the facts of his own experience."

"A writer need not devour a whole sheep in order to know what mutton tastes like, but he must at least eat a chop. Unless he gets his facts right, his imagination will lead him into all kinds of nonsense, and the facts he is most likely to get right are the facts of his own experience."

W. Somerset Maugham, British Playwright

Writing, Experience, Truth, Imagination

13

"In writing I am seduced by the sound of words and by the interaction of their sound and sense."

"In writing I am seduced by the sound of words and by the interaction of their sound and sense."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Writing, Creativity, Observation, Truth

13

"A writer's style should be direct and personal, his imagery rich and earthy, and his words simple and vigorous. The greatest writers have the gift of brilliant brevity, are hard workers, diligent scholars and competent stylists."

"A writer's style should be direct and personal, his imagery rich and earthy, and his words simple and vigorous. The greatest writers have the gift of brilliant brevity, are hard workers, diligent scholars and competent stylists."

Ernest Hemingway, American Novelist

Writing, Style, Simplicity, Work

13

"Don't interrupt when your characters take a flight of their own."

"Don't interrupt when your characters take a flight of their own."

Pawan Mishra, Indian Author

Writing, Creativity, Autonomy, Storytelling

13

"Maybe that's what writers do - Maybe they exaggerate pain just so that you feel okay about what you're feeling."

"Maybe that's what writers do - Maybe they exaggerate pain just so that you feel okay about what you're feeling."

Sanhita Baruah, Indian Writer

Writing, Emotion, Storytelling, Pain

13

"Writing is utter solitude, the descent into the cold abyss of oneself."

"Writing is utter solitude, the descent into the cold abyss of oneself."

Franz Kafka, Austrian Novelist

Writing, Solitude, Depth, Art

13

"I don't know where to start," one [writing student] will wail. Start with your childhood, I tell them. Plug your nose and jump in, and write down all your memories as truthfully as you can. Flannery O' Connor said that anyone who has survived childhood has enough material to write for the rest of his or her life. Maybe your childhood was grim and horrible, but grim and horrible is Okay if it is well done. Don't worry about doing it well yet, though. Just get it down."

"I don't know where to start," one [writing student] will wail. Start with your childhood, I tell them. Plug your nose and jump in, and write down all your memories as truthfully as you can. Flannery O' Connor said that anyone who has survived childhood has enough material to write for the rest of his or her life. Maybe your childhood was grim and horrible, but grim and horrible is Okay if it is well done. Don't worry about doing it well yet, though. Just get it down."

Anne Lamott, American Author

Writing, Childhood, Memory, Truth

13

"Writing is my joy, is my comfort zone, it strengthens my feeble knees and it frees my troubled heart."

"Writing is my joy, is my comfort zone, it strengthens my feeble knees and it frees my troubled heart."

Euginia Herlihy, South African Motivational Speaker

Writing, Joy, Comfort, Expression

13

"It's part of a writer's job to be nosy about everything."

"It's part of a writer's job to be nosy about everything."

Sara Sheridan, Scottish Author

Writing, Curiosity, Observation, Job

13

"Also, I've already won all the awards."

"Also, I've already won all the awards."

Neil Gaiman, British Author

Writing, Awards

13

"There are two moments worthwhile in writing, the one when you start and the other when you throw it in the waste-paper basket."

"There are two moments worthwhile in writing, the one when you start and the other when you throw it in the waste-paper basket."

Samuel Beckett, Irish Playwright

Writing, Creation, Rejection, Process

13

"Writers are also sort of like vultures, but with fewer ethics."

"Writers are also sort of like vultures, but with fewer ethics."

Libba Bray, American Author

Writing, Ethics, Creativity, Observation

13

"Literary detection and firearms don't really go hand in hand, pen mighter than the sword and so forth."

"Literary detection and firearms don't really go hand in hand, pen mighter than the sword and so forth."

Jasper Fforde, British Novelist

Writing, Conflict, Irony, Intellect

13

"A writer's knowledge of himself, realistic and unromantic, is like a store of energy on which he must draw for a lifetime: one volt of it properly directed will bring a character to life."

"A writer's knowledge of himself, realistic and unromantic, is like a store of energy on which he must draw for a lifetime: one volt of it properly directed will bring a character to life."

Graham Greene, British Playwright

Writing, Self, Creativity, Truth

13

"My stories run up and bite me on the leg - I respond by writing down everything that goes on during the bite. When I finish, the idea lets go and runs off."

"My stories run up and bite me on the leg - I respond by writing down everything that goes on during the bite. When I finish, the idea lets go and runs off."

Ray Bradbury, American Writer

13

"It comes a point in which you don't know if you write books or the books write you."

"It comes a point in which you don't know if you write books or the books write you."

Robin Sacredfire, Portuguese Philosopher

Writing, Identity, Reflection, Creativity

13

"Write at the edges of the day."

"Write at the edges of the day."

Toni Morrison, American Novelist

Writing, Creativity, Discipline, Focus

13

"Writing with ferocity is a gift, provided that ferocity is a monomaniacal devotion to pursuing the truth ..."

"Writing with ferocity is a gift, provided that ferocity is a monomaniacal devotion to pursuing the truth ..."

John Geddes, Canadian Author

Writing, Truth, Passion, Devotion

13

"I just sit at my typewriter and curse a bit."

"I just sit at my typewriter and curse a bit."

P. G. Wodehouse, English Writer

Writing, Creativity, Expression, Discipline

13

"Writing a memoir is a holistic method of learning and healing by placing responsibility for personal transformation on the spiritual authority of the self. Writing a person's life story is useful to gain a comprehensive understanding regarding a person's maturation, distinctive stages of personal development, and the influences provided by their family and society. The writing processes also serves as a catharsis for painful personal events that a person seeks to integrate into their transmuting being. Writing our personal story, we discover new dimensions of our being."

"Writing a memoir is a holistic method of learning and healing by placing responsibility for personal transformation on the spiritual authority of the self. Writing a person's life story is useful to gain a comprehensive understanding regarding a person's maturation, distinctive stages of personal development, and the influences provided by their family and society. The writing processes also serves as a catharsis for painful personal events that a person seeks to integrate into their transmuting being. Writing our personal story, we discover new dimensions of our being."

Kilroy J. Oldster, American Author

Writing, Healing, Self, Transformation, Story

13

"Say to yourself in the kindest possible way, Look, honey, all we're going to for now is to write a description of the river at sunrise, or the young child swimming in the pool at the club, or the first time the man sees the woman he will marry. That is all we are going to do for now. We are just going to take this bird by bird. But we are going to finish this one short assignment."

"Say to yourself in the kindest possible way, Look, honey, all we're going to for now is to write a description of the river at sunrise, or the young child swimming in the pool at the club, or the first time the man sees the woman he will marry. That is all we are going to do for now. We are just going to take this bird by bird. But we are going to finish this one short assignment."

Anne Lamott, American Author

Writing, Assignment, Life, Focus

13

"I hate being a writer. i tend to stick my emotions in things that cannot reciprocate. I've become a whore for my craft."

"I hate being a writer. i tend to stick my emotions in things that cannot reciprocate. I've become a whore for my craft."

Darnell Lamont Walker, American Writer

Writing, Emotion, Art, Pain

13

"Nothing goes by luck in composition. It allows of no tricks. The best you can write will be the best you are."

"Nothing goes by luck in composition. It allows of no tricks. The best you can write will be the best you are."

Henry David Thoreau, American Author

Writing, Luck, Nothing, Will

13

"Let the writer take up surgery or bricklaying if he is interested in technique. There is no mechanical way to get the writing done, no shortcut. The young writer would be a fool to follow a theory. Teach yourself by your own mistakes; people learn only by error. The good artist believes that nobody is good enough to give him advice. He has supreme vanity. No matter how much he admires the old writer, he wants to beat him."

"Let the writer take up surgery or bricklaying if he is interested in technique. There is no mechanical way to get the writing done, no shortcut. The young writer would be a fool to follow a theory. Teach yourself by your own mistakes; people learn only by error. The good artist believes that nobody is good enough to give him advice. He has supreme vanity. No matter how much he admires the old writer, he wants to beat him."

William Faulkner, American Novelist

Writing, Art, Mistake, Creativity

13

"Maugham then offers the greatest advice anyone could give to a young author: "At the end of an interrogation sentence, place a question mark. You'd be surprised how effective it can be."

"Maugham then offers the greatest advice anyone could give to a young author: "At the end of an interrogation sentence, place a question mark. You'd be surprised how effective it can be."

Woody Allen, American Director

Writing, Advice, Life, Creativity

13

"Writing may or may not be your salvation; it might or might not be your destiny. But that does not matter. What matters right now are the words, one after another. Find the next word. Write it down."

"Writing may or may not be your salvation; it might or might not be your destiny. But that does not matter. What matters right now are the words, one after another. Find the next word. Write it down."

Neil Gaiman, British Author

Writing, Salvation, Destiny, Creativity

13

"Say all you have to say in the fewest possible words, or your reader will be sure to skip them; and in the plainest possible words or he will certainly misunderstand them."

"Say all you have to say in the fewest possible words, or your reader will be sure to skip them; and in the plainest possible words or he will certainly misunderstand them."

John Ruskin, English Writer

Writing, Clarity, Brevity, Communication

13

"The eloquence of the pen is just as sharp as the point of a sword."

"The eloquence of the pen is just as sharp as the point of a sword."

Matshona Dhliwayo, Zimbabwean Philosopher

Writing, Expression, Power, Impact

13

"A written word is the choicest of relics. It is something at once more intimate with us and more universal than any other work of art. It is the work of art nearest to life itself. It may be translated into every language, and not only be read but actually breathed from all human lips; - not be represented on canvas or in marble only, but be carved out of the breath of life itself."

"A written word is the choicest of relics. It is something at once more intimate with us and more universal than any other work of art. It is the work of art nearest to life itself. It may be translated into every language, and not only be read but actually breathed from all human lips; - not be represented on canvas or in marble only, but be carved out of the breath of life itself."

Henry David Thoreau, American Author

Writing, Art, Life, Language

13

"Shake was a dramatist of note; He lived by writing things to quote."

"Shake was a dramatist of note; He lived by writing things to quote."

H. C. Bunner, American Journalist

13

"I listened as the words became sentences and the sentences became pages and the pages became feelings and voices and places and people."

"I listened as the words became sentences and the sentences became pages and the pages became feelings and voices and places and people."

Jennifer Donnelly, American Author

Writing, Word, Story, Emotion

13

"This summer, I'll be bringing out a mystery that involves a young lawyer and a court scene the likes of which I don't think you've ever seen. Hollywood said this is James Patterson meets John Grisham."

"This summer, I'll be bringing out a mystery that involves a young lawyer and a court scene the likes of which I don't think you've ever seen. Hollywood said this is James Patterson meets John Grisham."

James Patterson, American Author

Writing, Court, Hollywood, Mystery, Summer

13

"It ain't just about writing on some documents,author writes on to the readers' heart and mind."

"It ain't just about writing on some documents,author writes on to the readers' heart and mind."

Toba Beta, Indonesian Author

Writing, Truth, Wisdom, Inspirational, Power

13

"Life is short. Write naked."

"Life is short. Write naked."

A. D. Posey, American Poet

Writing, Creativity, Truth, Life

13

"The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart."

"The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart."

Maya Angelou, American Poet

Writing, People, Heart, Idea

13

"Once the writer in every individual comes to life (and that time is not far off), we are in for an age of universal deafness and lack of understanding."

"Once the writer in every individual comes to life (and that time is not far off), we are in for an age of universal deafness and lack of understanding."

Milan Kundera, Czechoslovakian Writer

Writing, Understanding, Expression, Life

13

"You want to avoid at all costs drawing your characters on those that already exist in other works of fiction. You must learn about people from people, not from what you read. Your reading should confirm what you've observed in the world."

"You want to avoid at all costs drawing your characters on those that already exist in other works of fiction. You must learn about people from people, not from what you read. Your reading should confirm what you've observed in the world."

Anne Lamott, American Author

Writing, Creativity, Originality, Observation

13

"Some writers write to forget. Some forget to write."

"Some writers write to forget. Some forget to write."

Mokokoma Mokhonoana, South African Philosopher

Writing, Truth, Wisdom, Life, Power

13

"I use a whole lot of half-assed semicolons; there was one of them just now; that was a semicolon after 'semicolons,' and another one after 'now."

"I use a whole lot of half-assed semicolons; there was one of them just now; that was a semicolon after 'semicolons,' and another one after 'now."

Ursula K. Le Guin, American Writer

Writing, Humor, Language, Expression

13

"You'll never see my books on Vanity Fair I'm not the type of author they would want there."

"You'll never see my books on Vanity Fair I'm not the type of author they would want there."

Stanley Victor Paskavich, American Politician

Writing, Vanity, Books, Recognition, Truth

13

"Never place your punch at the beginning of a column nor at the end. Sneak it in where it's least expected. Fill a whole column with drivel, just to get in that one important line."

"Never place your punch at the beginning of a column nor at the end. Sneak it in where it's least expected. Fill a whole column with drivel, just to get in that one important line."

Ayn Rand, Russian Writer

Writing, Surprise, Style, Creativity

13

"Those who write clearly have readers, those who write obscurely have commentators."

"Those who write clearly have readers, those who write obscurely have commentators."

Albert Camus, French Philosopher

13

"What a writer has to do is write what hasn't been written before or beat dead men at what they have done."

"What a writer has to do is write what hasn't been written before or beat dead men at what they have done."

Ernest Hemingway, American Novelist

Writing, Creativity, Originality, Expression

13

"Writing requires a prolong period of academic education supplemented by studiously scrutinizing society and its customs. Writers also analyze their own nature and physical surroundings, a self-directed exploration of their internal and external environment."

"Writing requires a prolong period of academic education supplemented by studiously scrutinizing society and its customs. Writers also analyze their own nature and physical surroundings, a self-directed exploration of their internal and external environment."

Kilroy J. Oldster, American Author

Writing, Education, Society, Analysis

13

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