Quotations from famous authors about the writing process—to inspire you, advise you, or just make you laugh.
“Writing is easy; all you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead.” —Gene Fowler
Anyone who has ever wanted—or been required—to create something more complicated than a shopping list or a tweet knows how challenging writing can be. We use words all the time, yet putting them in written form can feel like a daunting task.
This book collects quotes about the creative process and the writing life from a variety of authors—even the most celebrated and successful of whom have sometimes struggled with self-doubt and felt blocked. Here are the wisest and wittiest utterances on such subjects as why we write (Ernest Hemingway: “I have a good life but I must write because if I do not write a certain amount I do not enjoy the rest of my life.”); how to write (Anton Chekhov: “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”); and writing for money (Cormac McCarthy: “I never had any doubts about my abilities. I knew I could write. I just had to figure out how to eat while doing this.”).
It has been said that reading won’t make you a good writer, but it will make you a better writer. Dip into this lively and useful treasure trove, and you’ll be well on your way.
