“Why does the writer write? The writer writes to serve--hopelessly he writes in the hope that he might serve--not himself and not… — Joy Williams Copy Share Image
I do have pleasure when I'm writing. I mean, I'm aware of pleasure. And sometimes I make myself laugh, with a joke… — Peter Schjeldahl Copy Share Image
“There is something nice about a library, isn't there?" Mr. Curtis said. He nodded and took in the familiar scenery. "The scent… — Ilana Waters Copy Share Image
If Francoise Sagan hadn't written a book called A Chateau in Sweden, I would certainly write a short story called A Chateau… — Truman Capote Copy Share Image
Keeping a personal journal a daily in-depth analysis and evaluation of your experiences is a high-leverage activity that increases self-awareness and enhances… — Stephen Covey Copy Share Image
It is comparatively easy to become a writer; staying a writer, resisting formulaic work, generating ones own creativity - thats a much… — Brian Aldiss Copy Share Image
All my friends who wanted to write had got nowhere trying to write the great European novel. So I deliberately steered clear… — Jo Nesbo Copy Share Image
If you don't have a sensation of apprehension when you set out to find a story and a swagger when you sit… — A. M. Rosenthal Copy Share Image
“[Referring to passage by Alice Munro] Finally, the passage contradicts a form of bad advice often given young writers -- namely, that… — Francine Prose Copy Share Image
Writers, like most human beings, are adaptable creatures. They can learn to accept subordination without growing fond of it. No writer can… — Rod Serling Copy Share Image
To me experimental fiction ultimately is about the experiment and I'm not interested in experiments for their own sake, and if anything… — Steve Erickson Copy Share Image
Because, as we know, almost anything can be read into any book if you are determined enough. This will be especially impressed… — Anonymous Copy Share Image
Structure that really pays off is all based on emotion. I don't write down an elaborate plan. It's really done by feel.… — Graham Swift Copy Share Image
The book must of necessity be put into a bookcase. And the bookcase must be housed. And the house must be kept.… — William E. Gladstone Copy Share Image
I like a novel to have a certain amount of dead time and filler - unremarkable scenery, descriptions of getting from point… — Elif Batuman Copy Share Image
If you read only the best, you will have no need of reading the other books, because the latter are nothing but… — Anna Brackett Copy Share Image
If books could have more, give more, be more, show more, they would still need readers who bring to them sound and… — Gary Paulsen Copy Share Image
“Don't mark up the Library's copy, you fool! Librarians are Unprankable. They'll track you down! They have skills!” — Charles Ogden Copy Share Image
Death is the great Maecenas, Death is the great angel of writing. You must write because you are not going to live… — Carlos Fuentes Copy Share Image
“Every reader writes the book he or she reads, supplying what isn't there, and that creative invention becomes the book.” — Siri Hustvedt Copy Share Image
I always sympathize with people who complain about the length of my books. It would take me a year to get through… — Ron Chernow Copy Share Image
I've noticed it a lot. I'm not someone who revises. It's always the first movement, it's that. It's an instinct. Either it… — Amelie Nothomb Copy Share Image
“It seemed any young woman at odds with her place in life--be she a genteel lady or a serving girl--might find a… — Tessa Dare Copy Share Image
I'm constantly reading and trying to enlighten myself to how the world works in its silent ways to make everything seem normal… — Jenny Hval Copy Share Image
Being a writer is a rather hazardous occupation and there is a horribly high rate of writers who barely have the money… — Herbert Gold Copy Share Image
“Your life experience is a moving picture, of which you are writer, director, performer, producer and critic.” — T.F. Hodge Copy Share Image
As for piracy, I love to be pirated. It is the greatest compliment an author can have. The wholesale piracy of Democracy… — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
A book is not an end in itself; it is only a way to touch someone - a bridge extended across a… — Isabel Allende Copy Share Image
Snoop is a tour de force! It’s one of the smartest and most original books I’ve come across in a long time.… — Richard Florida Copy Share Image
An idea has been running in my head that books lose and gain qualities in the course of time, and I have… — George A. Moore Copy Share Image
“When you are writing, you do not need to be as good as Poe, Shakespeare or Rowling. You need to be as… — Giuseppe Bianco Copy Share Image
I like to write with people I have a relationship with; otherwise it's kind of scary, and you hold back because you… — Miranda Lambert Copy Share Image
Writing a novel proved to be the hardest, most self-analyzing task I had ever attempted, far worse than an autobiography: and its… — Dick Francis Copy Share Image
Mainly, I try not to think about my readers as I write - I just think of my characters and myself -… — Jacqueline Woodson Copy Share Image
I was very pleased, obviously, to have outsold great writers. But I'm not insane - I do realise that I am a… — Maeve Binchy Copy Share Image
“I imagine I was always writing. Twaddle it was, too. But better far write twaddle or anything, anything, than nothing at all.” — Katherine Mansfield Copy Share Image
If I had the luxury of working as a full time writer, I think you would see novels appearing on a much… — John Scott Copy Share Image
I cannot and do not live in the world of discretion, not as a writer, anyway. I would prefer to, I assure… — Philip Roth Copy Share Image
If I choose to write about sheep, it's just because I happened to write about sheep. There is no deep significance. — Haruki Murakami Copy Share Image
When you're writing a novel, you don't want the reader to come out of it voting yes or no to some question.… — Margaret Atwood Copy Share Image
![“[Referring to passage by Alice Munro] Finally, the passage contradicts a form of bad advice often given young writers -- namely, that the job of the author is to show, not tell. Needless to say, many great novelists combine "dramatic" showing with long sections of the flat-out authorial narration…” quote by Francine Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/francine-prose-9354_bad-advice_referring-to-passage-by-alice-munro-fina_1081030.jpg)
