Quotes about writing
writing hands deception
Bayle, when writing on "Comets," discovered this; for having collected many things applicable to his work, as they stood quoted in some modern writers, when he came to compare them with their originals, he was surprised to find that they were nothing for his purpose! the originals conveyed a quite contrary sense to that of the pretended quoters, who often, from innocent blundering, and sometimes from purposed deception, had falsified their quotations. This is an useful story for second-hand authorities! Isaac Disraeli
writing mind vectors
Writing has power, but its power has no vector. Writers can stir the mind, but they can't direct it. Time changes things, God changes things, the dictators change things, but writers can't change anything. Isaac Bashevis Singer
writing trying too-much
When a writer tries to explain too much, he's out of time before he begins.
writing expression vision
Every creator painfully experiences the chasm between his inner vision and its ultimate expression. The chasm is never completely bridged. We all have the conviction, perhaps illusory, that we have much more to say than appears on the paper.
writing stories literature
A good writer is basically a story teller, not a scholar or a redeemer of mankind.
writing perspective outsiders
I've always been interested in writing from the perspective of an outsider. Isaac Marion
writing rejection soul
Rejection slips, or form letters, however tactfully phrased, are lacerations of the soul, if not quite inventions of the devil-but there is no way around them. Isaac Asimov
writing knowledge law
Unfortunately, in many cases, people who write science fiction violate the laws of nature, not because they want to make a point, but because they don't know what the laws of nature are.
writing two style
So, then, what is style? There are two chief aspects of any piece of writing: 1) what you say and 2) how you say it. The former is "content" and the latter is "style."
writing essence fiction-stories
Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinder critics and philosophers of today - but the core of science fiction, its essence has become crucial to our salvation if we are to be saved at all.
writing exercise typewriters
When I sit down at the typewriter, I write. Someone once asked me if I had a fixed routine before I start, like setting up exercises, sharpening pencils, or having a drink of orange juice. I said, "No, the only thing I do before I start writing is to make sure that I'm close enough to the typewriter to reach the keys."
writing judging fit
Never judge your own writing. You're not fit to do so.
writing cutting lessons
We mythologists know very well that myths and legends contain borrowings, moral lessons, nature cycles, and a hundred other distorting influences, and we labor to cut them away and get to what might be a kernel of truth. In fact, these same techniques must be applied to the most sober histories, for no one writes the clear and apparent truth-if such a thing can even be said to exist.
writing long-ago mind
I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing — to be clear.
writing firsts steps
The first step in making rabbit stew is catching the rabbit.
writing science love-is
Thinking is the activity I love best, and writing to me is simply thinking through my fingers. I can write up to 18 hours a day. Typing 90 words a minute, I've done better than 50 pages a day. Nothing interferes with my concentration. You could put an orgy in my office and I wouldn't look up-well, maybe once.
writing sleep typewriters
Whenever I have endured or accomplished some difficult task -- such as watching television, going out socially or sleeping -- I always look forward to rewarding myself with the small pleasure of getting back to my typewriter and writing something.
writing science fiction
Science fiction writers foresee the inevitable, and although problems and catastrophes may be inevitable, solutions are not.
writing long-ago mind
I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing-to be clear. I have given up all thought of writing poetically or symbolically or experimentally, or in any of the other modes that might (if I were good enough) get me a Pulitzer prize. I would write merely clearly and in this way establish a warm relationship between myself and my readers, and the professional critics-Well, they can do whatever they wish.
writing interest interruptions
Writing is my only interest. Even speaking is an interruption.
writing thinking fingers
Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers.
writing creative world
No one suggests that writing about science will turn the entire world into a model of judgment and creative thought. It will be enough if they spread the knowledge as widely as possible.
writing teach
It's the writing that teaches you.
writing firsts duty
Your first duty as a writer is to write to please yourself. And you have no duty towards anyone else. Iris Chang
writing thinking may
I may attempt a novel. I think that no matter what you write, it requires being honest with oneself, and you have to pull yourself out of the whirlwind of daily life.
writing people liberty
For some reason, I seem to be bothered whenever I see acts of injustice and assaults on people's civil liberties. I imagine what I write in the future will follow in that vein. Whether it's fiction or non-fiction.
writing piano play
I play piano and write better than I can sing. Irene Cara
writing people never-change
People say, "You should write lyrics" and I say I'm quite happy not to, because I like being part of that process where you write your version of what someone else's lyrics are saying to you, and that enjoyment has never changed. Elton John
writing rocks phones
I don't have a computer. I am the Luddite of rock'n'roll, I don't have a portable phone. I write things down.
writing mean law
I mean, in some cases with libel laws, you know, they can write things about people who have no course of action, because they can't afford to take legal action against them.
writing piano i-can
I am such a Luddite when it comes to making music. All I can do is write at the piano.
writing responsibility healing
So often survivors have had their experiences denied, trivialized, or distorted. Writing is an important avenue for healing because it gives you the opportunity to define your own reality. You can say: This did happen to me. It was that bad. It was the fault & responsibility of the adult. I was—and am—innocent.” The Courage to Heal by Ellen Bass & Laura Davis Ellen Bass
writing want firsts
Poetry is the most intimate of all writing. I want to speak first from me to myself and then from me to you.