Creative process Quote by Ngaio Marsh
““Please don't entertain for a moment the utterly mistaken idea that there is no drudgery in writing. There is a great deal of drudgery in even the most inspired, the most noble, the most distinguished writing. Read what the great ones have said about their jobs; how they never sit down to their work without a sigh of distress and never get up from it witout a sigh of relief. Do you imagine that your Muse is forever flamelike -- breathing the inspired word, the wonderful situation, the superb solution into your attentive ear? ... Believe me, my poor boy, if you wait for inspiration in our set-up, you'll wait for ever.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Writing Reflections, Ngaio Marsh, 1970
Writing always involves tedious, repetitive tasks despite moments of inspiration; the myth of effortless creation is false.
In simple terms: Writing is hard work, not just inspiration.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the grind, don’t wait for muse.
Themes
writing
discipline
creativity
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
advice
motivational
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- academic papers
- blog posts
- screenplays
- daily journaling
Key Concepts
process
drudgery
inspiration
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance routine work with creative bursts?
- What strategies keep you motivated during drudgery?
A Different Perspective
Even with discipline, burnout can occur without balance.
![“[A]lways get to the dialogue as soon as possible. I always feel the thing to go for is speed. Nothing puts the reader off more than a big slab of prose at the start." (Interview, The Paris Review , Issue 64, Winter 1975)” quote by P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/989/p-g-wodehouse-723_communication_a-lways-get-to-the-dialogue-as-soon-as-p_13316.jpg)
