Books Quote by James Scott Bell

“Novel writing is mostly triage (this now, that later) and obstinacy. Trying something, and when that doesn't work, trying something else. Welcoming clutter Surrendering…

— Richard Russo

You really need to approach each book as if you have been a failure. . . . If you start to believe your flap-copy,…

— Louise Erdrich

“writing a novel is extremely complicated. So complicated, in fact, that you cannot possibly hold your entire novel in your head all at once.…

— Nathan Bransford

“Write and keep writing, not because people will like it, but because someone may get a kick out of thrashing your book.”

— Magus Tor

It is so much hard work writing your first novel. You're not even sure that it is possible to do.

— Asa Larsson

“For the length of time it takes to write a book, you need to believe that you’re the only writer in existence; the only…

— Martin Cosgrove

“Writing a book is like quilting. Once you start, keep on until it's finished.”

— Reba Birmingham

“My new book is going well. It’s practically writing itself! Actually, what I mean is I’m not writing it, my clone is.”

— Jarod Kintz

With any novel that you begin, you can't foresee how difficult or easy it's going to be, and you can't really prepare yourself. You…

— Jane Smiley

“Somedays you have to write even when you think you're putting out crap. You just need to tell yourself that you'll fix the problems…

— Christopher Rice

“Writers know all the good reasons for subjecting their work to a sharp trim. Early drafts are notorious for repetition, indirection and overdevelopment of…

— Pamela Erens

“The hardest thing about writing a novel is getting it published.”

— Marianne Cushing