Begin Quote by Joe Abercrombie

Though The Kite Runner was my first completed novel, I had been writing on and off for most of my life, primarily short stories,…

— Khaled Hosseini

I realised I'd never climb Everest but thought I could still write a book

— Sara Paretsky

The first book was my first attempt at writing full-length prose.

— Neil Simon

Start with short stories. After all, if you were taking up rock climbing, you wouldn't start with Mount Everest. So if you're starting fantasy,…

— George R. R. Martin

One book that I just think is absolutely beautiful is 'The Kite Runner.' I'd recommend that one to any and everyone.

— Snoh Aalegra

Adventure books are my personal favorites. 'The Endurance,' a story about Ernest Shackleton's legendary Antarctica expedition, or 'Into Thin Air,' Jon Krakauer's personal account…

— Dean Karnazes

With this first novel, I am just above the foothills, but I see the path to the top, and it is my desire to…

— Guy Johnson

I really absolutely loved writing my first book.

— Jill Davis

The book is first and foremost something I made for myself.

— Tim Ferriss

The first book was a life story that I was hesitant to write anyway because I didn't feel like I had a real life…

— Bobby Bones

The last book I read before I wrote my first book - 'Ghosts of Manhattan' - was 'The Gold Coast' by DeMille. I loved…

— Douglas Brunt

I would also suggest that any aspiring writer begin with short stories. These days, I meet far too many young writers who try to…

— George R. R. Martin