Quotes about Writing

All of Madeleine's writing, fiction and nonfiction, was an example of how all narrative is fiction, and all fiction can be true.

You don't write for success. That takes part of your attention away from the writing. If you're really doing it, that's all you're doing: writing.

The only end of writing is to enable readers better to enjoy life or better to endure it.

Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.

Never trust a man who writes more than he reads.

Addison writes with the ease of a gentleman. His readers fancy that a wise and accomplished companion is talking to them; so that he insinuates his sentiments and taste into their minds by an imperceptible influence. Johnson writes like a teacher. He dictates to his readers as if from an academical chair. They attend with awe and admiration; and his precepts are impressed upon them by his commanding eloquence.

When People talk of the Freedom of Writing, Speaking or thinking, I cannot choose but laugh. No such thing ever existed. No such thing now exists: but I hope it will exist. But it must be hundreds of years after you and I shall write and speak no more.

True and false fears let us refrain, Let us love nobly, and live, and add again Years and years unto years, till we attain To write threescore: this is the second of our reign.

One writes of scars healed, a loose parallel to the pathology of the skin, but there is no such thing in the life of an individual.

I don't think I'm a particularly good writer, and I'm not terribly insightful.

Write while the heat is in you.

There is a mystery in all great writing and that mystery does not dissect out. It continues and is always valid.