Writing Tips from Great Writers
Hello folkses!
Just a quick one today- I spotted a good article which grabbed a few quotes from famous writers, so thought I’d share it.
The full list is here, please check it out! They refer to the struggle of writing, from the task itself to rejection. I think any fledgling writer like myself can draw some comfort from this kind of thing, knowing that even the greats hit road bumps.
The first draft of everything is shit. – Ernest Hemingway
If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy. – Dorothy Parker
You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. – Jack London
Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand. – George Orwell
There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. – W. Somerset Maugham
Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong. – Neil Gaiman
Write drunk, edit sober. – Ernest Hemingway
Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. – Mark Twain
Don’t take anyone’s writing advice too seriously. – Lev Grossman
Rather nice, eh? Please do check out the full list. Neil Gaiman wrote some advice in a book I had signed by him (American Gods); it was one word. Write.
Have you come across any corkers?
