Here are ten of our favourite quotes about writing, from those who should probably know the most about it – writers themselves. Some of them are witty quotes, others profound, some a mixture. We hope you enjoy them.
‘Being a writer is a very peculiar sort of a job: it’s always you versus a blank sheet of paper and quite often the blank piece of paper wins.’
– Neil Gaiman
‘God may reduce you on Judgment Day to tears of shame, reciting by heart the poems you would have written, had your life been good.’
– W. H. Auden
‘A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.’
– Thomas Mann
‘Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.’
– Cyril Connolly
‘The dubious privilege of a freelance writer is that he’s given the freedom to starve wherever he likes.’
– S. J. Perelman
‘The original writer is not one who imitates nobody, but one whom nobody can imitate.’
– François-René de Chateaubriand
‘I think the hardest thing about writing is writing.’
– Nora Ephron
‘A writer – and, I believe, generally all persons – must think that whatever happens to him or her is a resource.’
– Jorge Luis Borges
‘And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it.’
– Sylvia Plath
‘How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.’
– Henry David Thoreau
Image: Neil Gaiman, signing books after a reading from ‘Anansi Boys’ in Berkeley, 2005 © 2005 Jutta, share-alike licence.
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Very tweetable!
Many days and nights I muttered something like this to myself when I see phony smiley ladies pitching their useless shallow chic lit. ‘Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.’
– Cyril Connolly
I’m always moved by this quote: “the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.”
― Jack Kerouac, On the Road
It doesn’t directly apply to writing, but I find it relevant. I wrote a post about it on my blog if anyone is interested!
When someone writes an article he/she retains the idea of a usr in his/her brain that hhow a user
can understand it. Therefore that’s why this article is outstdanding.
Thanks!
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As a new writer, all of these quotes were relevant .. however, the Thomas Mann quote definitely made me chuckle! Cathy
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Reblogged this on chasingtheturtle.
Thank you for sharing – one of the above quotes is now on my physical wall…:)
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Lovely collection. I think the Cyril Connolly is my favourite – hadn’t heard that. And there’s the Kingsley Amis one that’s in the same vein as some of these: “The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of one’s pants to the seat of one’s chair”,
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Reblogged this on Seven Steeds on a Mountain and commented:
I like this.
Wow, amazing quotes!! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for liking my quote! Hmm, the Thoreau quote is very profound – how can you write if you have not lived indeed?
One of my personal favorites is: “The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”-Stephen King
Hehe, I like that one!
Ha ha, I know. Truth. It’s brilliant.
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I love the SJ Perelman quote, brilliant. I also like this one from Hemmingway in his typically blunt tone:
‘The good parts of a book may be only something a writer is lucky enough to overhear or it may be the wreck of his whole damn life and one is as good as the other.’
Neil Gaiman had such great advice on writing. Also, so does Stephen King.
Great post, thanks. Just reblogged…
Reblogged this on How Do You Pronounce Eynon? and commented:
I loved this post, so I just had to reblog. I particularly like the quote by Thomas Mann. Thanks interesting Literature for the original.
Enjoy
I like another Neil Gaiman one: where is the fun in doing something you know will work?
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But I should perhaps have left this quote, on re-reading yours from Nora Ephron (‘I think the hardest thing about writing is writing”) . Rosemary Sutcliff once said: “Writing is perhaps just one degree less frightful than not writing”.
Excellent quotes! Thank you.
My godmother, Rosemary Sutcliff (1920-92), was an ‘impish, irreverent writer of genius’ according to The Guardian newspaper in the UK in their obituary. In the second half of the 20th century she was a major figure in children;s lierature and historical fiction. She was fascinating about the process of writing her books. I recently collated a few quotes of hers from an early 1980s article inThe Times newspaper. They are at http://rosemarysutcliff.com/2014/01/21/modern-times-are-a-hindrance, a post on the blog http://www.rosemarysutcliff.com . Other quotes from Rosemary Sutcliff can be found here at http://rosemarysutcliff.com/tag/quotes. I shall resist here trying ’10 Great Quotations from Rosemary Sutcliff’ about writing’!
Reblogged this on Thriller Writing Help for Authors and commented:
Some fabulous Quotations on Writing.
That last quote really got me. I think why I find it hard to write sometimes is because I haven’t lived enough.
Reblogged this on The Birds Inside My Head….
I love hearing the truth about writing from the certified profis, for the feeling of identification will probably be the only comparison one of us mere-mortals can honestly claim as a connection with them. Certainly Thomas Mann’s pronouncement is wondrous. Considering the length of his books, he suffered greatly!
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Reblogged this on William Grit.
“…blank piece of paper wins” my heart just skipped a beat
You forgot Chekhov’s advice about writers. It goes as thus:
“Don’t tell me the Moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”
The last by Thoreau is particularly relevant in the digital age.
Great. I particularly like the Mann and the Borges, not to mention the Connolly,
Thanks – glad you liked them! They’re among my favourites too, though it’s tough to choose really (it was hard choosing the ten to go in this post, to be honest).
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It’s amazing how when seeing a blank piece of paper can reinforce your belief that if you have something to say, you buckle down and get on with it, and the words flow. I keep getting surprised by what I can do.
Indeed – it’s the getting started that’s the tough bit! I think the main thing is just to start writing. Then you warm up, and it becomes easier.
Thank-you for commenting.
If you wait for something to come into your mind, you could wait a long time. Sometimes you have to will yourself to write and somehow words tend to follow, even if it’s one sentence at a time. And gradually the words start to flow and you’re back with the story.
Great Gaiman quote, but it was, “This is how you do it: you sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy, and that hard.” that got me through NaNoWriMo last year. Also, no Vonnegut?
BTW, thanks for the like!
That’s a good quotation too – and you’re right, lack of Vonnegut was an oversight. Perhaps we’ll need to do a follow-up post in the next few months! And you’re welcome :)
Almost all of these are experiences that are every writer goes through. Writing is indefinable as it will be unique for everyone.
As a young, eager writer, I write short stories and poems. Please feel free to check out my blog: http://www.writingequalspassion.wordpress.com.
I hope you enjoy the visit.
writingequalspassion
Thanks, will do!
I glimpsed your mention of New Grub Street in a previous response and I wondered if you would agree that despite the passing of one hundred and twenty some years, very little has changed in the world of writing, publishing and writers’ popularity versus writers’ integrity. I really loved that book which is why the comment caught my eye :-)
Well said, Jackie – it’s amazing how little things have changed, despite the fact that the publishing market has altered in all sorts of ways. Gissing had it all there 120 years ago :)
Reblogged this on the shadows illuminated and commented:
Every writer needs to read these 10 quotations. Extremely true and inspiring.
I love these quotes…thanks for sharing! I’m actually partial to the last one from Thoreau. Living and experiencing can give you stories that most imaginations could never create.
http://www.honeylemontea.com
Well said!
Soooo many quotes from writers are about how the actual, physical writing is hard. The thoughts may be there, but it just doesn’t come out. How many other professions can say this?
I agree. I know many writers themselves pooh-pooh the idea of writer’s block, but I think even they would acknowledge that the act of writing itself can be difficult. Makes you wonder why people write! The pleasure it can bring outweighs the hardship…
Reblogged this on curvyroads and commented:
As a new writer, I can learn from all of these great quotes from writers, but especially like this one: ‘Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.’ – Cyril Connolly
Reblogged this on daydreaming in words and commented:
Really like this post.
Reblogged this on Jyoti Arora and commented:
Thoughts about writing by great writers themselves…
Wow, lovely quotes. Thanks for sharing.
Here’s one more: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
― Ernest Hemingway
Reblogging it :)
Thanks for that one, and thanks for reblogging! Glad you liked them :)
Neil Gaiman = Genius!
Couldn’t agree more!
I can relate so much to Borges’s, Plath’s, and Thoreau’s quotes here!
Glad you liked them! :)
The Thomas Mann one is brilliant.
That’s one of our favourites too :)
Reblogged this on aimanss… and commented:
awsome quotes……
beautiful quotes…
Thanks – glad you liked them!
ma pleasure…
I write about things I do not know first hand and I am right about, as proved later, in some of of these things which I know first hand. Therefore I write to learn to know more of myself.
Well put. I think that’s true of many writers, Benny – it’s always a learning experience.
Reblogged this on 3bones and commented:
Being an avid collector of quotes, I was delighted when this post from one of the blogs I follow, Interesting Literature, arrived in my WordPress Reader inbox this evening. These were definitely worth sharing and re-blogging …
Reblogged this on Chris Weston.
Today the blank sheet won. But tomorrow is another day. :)
Exactly – that’s the spirit :)
Reblogged this on Read It & Weep.
Nice to know that there are other writers out there who feel the same as I do.
Exactly! Well put :)
Great quotes. Thanks for sharing them.
My pleasure – glad you liked them :)
Love this one from Twain: “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” ― Mark Twain
Haha, yes, I’d forgotten that one – it’s a good’un :)
I love these! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks – glad you liked them!
Reblogged this on The Broken Mirror and commented:
I love Quotes. Make them about writing and I love them more!
Great post! Neil Gaiman always seems to be my favorite. :)
Reblogged too http://ramonatheconfused.wordpress.com/ :)
Thanks – glad you liked them! Yes, Gaiman has some great things to say about writing elsewhere on his website too :)
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That last quote by Henry made me laugh. All those quotes are an emotional roller coaster and I love it!!
Thanks – glad you liked them!
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Reblogged this on emmasrandomthoughts and commented:
An excellent post with quotes about writing. :)
Thank you! And thanks for reblogging :)
Reblogged this on Taylor Grace and commented:
What a fantastic post. Loved these quotes! There are some awesome blogs out there. Interestingliterature.com is one of them!
Thanks for reblogging, and for the kind words! :)
Thanks for the words of inspiration!
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed them :)
Reblogged this on filledwithphotos and commented:
This is probably one of my favorite blog posts I’ve ever found. It’s so hard to remember these at times. “Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.”
Wow, praise indeed! Thank you for reblogging :)
Reblogged this on طبيب حر الى آخر العمر.
Thanks for reblogging!
my pleasure,u’re welcome
Thanks for sharing these! They are great.
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed them :)
Great post! Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks, Margaux – glad you enjoyed it! :)
Reblogged this on North Country Writers' Night Out.
Thanks for reblogging!
Nice quotes!
Some great quotes here, especially the one by Cyril Connolly. Thanks for sharing!
My pleasure: glad you liked them!
Loving these! :-)
Glad you enjoyed them! :)
Reblogged this on thetrustyelizablog and commented:
There are some things you either know or don’t know about yourself. Unless, of course, you’re a writer. Then you’re never sure of anything.
Thanks for reblogging :)
Great list of a quotes. Several I haven’t heard before. :)
Glad you liked them! We aim to please :)
I love Borge’s quote because it’s so true. Even pain and suffering counts.
Indeed – and that can be comforting during hard times. You can’t be a good writer without experience, and even the horrible stuff is useful, harsh though that sounds…
Thanks for sharing these great quotes.
My pleasure :)
Reblogged this on Sleepy Book Dragon and commented:
Some inspirational quotations to keep you going whilst writing.
Thanks for reblogging!
Not a problem! ^^
That was fun:)
Thanks – glad you enjoyed them :)
‘The original writer is not one who imitates nobody, but one whom nobody can imitate.’ I have read works by these writers and aspire to be one. Don’t know if that will ever happen, but I am going to keep trying.
Well, as another writer said (I forget who), ‘Those who write are writers. Those who wait are waiters.’ You won’t know unless you persist and keep writing (I know this myself, as I’ve had several goes at a novel) :)
I’ll add the classic Gene Fowler line: “Writing is easy. You just stare at the blank sheet of paper (or screen) until drops of blood form on your forehead.”
Haha, brilliant :)
Reblogged this on 1WriteWay and commented:
Some interesting quotes from writers about writing. My favorite (and one that I may have to paint on my walls): “Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.”
This quote — ‘Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.’ — is the hardest one to live up to.
I agree. The Scylla and Charybdis of popularity/recognition and personal integrity is brilliantly explored by writers, e.g. George Gissing in New Grub Street.
PS Thanks for reblogging!
Wonderful, thank you for sharing these!
Heather xxx
My pleasure – glad you liked them, Heather!
I love these quotes!!!
Glad you liked them!