Writing well Quotes

“You know, the immortality of the soul, free will and all that -- it's all very amusing to talk about up to the age of twenty-two, but not after that. Then one ought to be giving one's mind to having fun without catching the pox, arranging one's life as comfortably as possible, having a few decent drawings on the wall, and above all writing well. That's the important thing: well-made sentences...and then a few metaphors. Yes, a few metaphors. They embellish a man's existence.”

“Good writing is good writing, whatever form it takes and whatever we call it.”

“But on the question of who you're writing for, don't be eager to please.”

“Don't annoy your readers by over-explaining--by telling them something they already know or can figure out. Try not to use words like "surprisingly," "predictably" and "of course," which put a value on a fact before the reader encounters the fact. Trust your material.”

“Writing is such a lonely work that I try to keep myself cheered up.”

“Writing well means never having to say, "I guess you had to be there.”

“You know you’re writing well when you’re throwing good stuff into the wastebasket.”

“Writing isn't difficult. Writing well is difficult. What is most difficult is being with the interior experience that manifests as resistance to writing.”

“I've probably put my 10,000 hours into writing, but I believe writing well is also greatly influenced by certain intangibles like mood and inspiration.”