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“If a story is in you, it has to come out.” ~William Faulkner (Remember that scene where the alien bursts out of the guy’s chest?)
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“Write drunk, edit sober.” ~Ernest Hemingway (Write without restraint! And then…restrain, restrain, restrain.)
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“You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” ~Jodi Picoult (In other words, you can’t steer a parked car.)
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“Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.” ~E. L. Doctorow (Listen, everyone already knows you’re crazy anyway. You might as well capitalize on it.)
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“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” ~Richard Bach (Or, as Shakespeare put it, “Fake it till thou makest it.)
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“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” ~Anton Chekhov (Like people from Missouri, our readers live in the show-me state.)
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“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, of course, is to shoot them now while they’re happy.” ~Dorothy Parker
And remember that tenacity trumps talent.
Yep.
Dorothy Parker was always good for a bit of snark.
Oh, yeah, she was the Queen of Snark.
I think that reputation has overshadowed anything she actually wrote.
Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
Thanks for these wonderful tips, Mitch! Some really made me smile. xx Michael
Shared on my FB author page. And Twit
Writing isn’t that bad. Love the cartoon 🙂
Nice tips and made ne smile 😊
I loved the Hemingway quote though I will skip the alcoholic content. Yes I have a love hate relationship with editing…mostly hate!
Some real truth in these! Hehe. Though I’m not in favor of shooting aspiring authors…
The Chekhov quote is a mantra of mine. I heard this idea expressed at a songwriting workshop. “Don’t tell me how you feel. Sing me a song that makes me feel that same way.” Steve Seskin
You had me at the cartoon!! Everything else was gravy. And truth!
;>) Yeah, I love that cartoon.
“Write drunk, edit sober.” ~Ernest Hemingway Too funny, and true I suppose.
All of them perfect 🙂 And the cartoon too!
I like Jodi’s tip.
From editing frequently, one can get something written.
Very inspirational!
Some of these are familiar, but always worth a revisit. ✍🏼 ✨
It’s good to laugh, even while we’re doing something that matters to us!
These are great, Mitch.
Such genius. Even the writing tips from these authors are clever! Thanks for sharing, Mitch–great fun, wise advice. Perhaps you know what William Wordsworth said about writing: “Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” Or how about this definition of an author from an unknown source: “A writer is a peculiar organism capable of turning caffeine into books.”
Yes, I’ve heard the Wordsworth quote. The other quote is new to me, but it’s delightful, Nancy.
I really like the Jodi Picoult quote, it is very similar to the idea of writing when you don’t feel able. Write by editting, writing reviews, write blog comments even!😉
Yes!
Well now base on the advice clearly writing fulfil the self-torment one feels one deserves if you’re into that, not sure if I’m better or lesser off now. Ignorance may never be a virtue but one could always find warmth and comfort in one’s own delusions, that’s now down the drain.
Clever and witty post, Mitch! What Alien franchise fan could ever forget the supper table scene; un-see the Nostromo crew’s collective, “We’re Toast!” facially expressed horror?
The Jodi Picoult quote is my favorite.
My interpretation: You can always edit a bad page, revise, rewrite, and edit again. If necessary repeat the cycle. But if you don’t start you have a blank page.
Gave me a good chuckle, thanks. Loved Dorothy Parker’s especially
Love these tips/quotes! Thank you, Mitch!
Love these tips/quotes, Mitch! I’m a Missouri gal so I understand the “Show-me”!
;>)
How goes it, Mitch? Who are a few of your favorite novelists?
Hey Neil! Wow, where do I begin? Just off the top of my head: Mark Twain, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Harper Lee, H.G. Wells, Zora Neale Hurston, T.H. White, C.S. Lewis, Ralph Ellison, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, George Eliot, Richard Wright, J.D. Salinger, Kurt Vonnegut, Betty Smith, Richard Matheson…
Hi Mitch, first of all, deep thanks for the recent likes on several of my posts, and for deciding to follow my blog. I used to post something/anything every Sunday, but fell off that perch a good while ago. I’ve been a loyal follower of certain bloggers for many years, yet, unfortunately, have found it difficult to allocate the time to increase that base, even though so many bloggers have interesting themes. Eventually, though – I found what you have to say difficult to resist! Especially since I am returning to a manuscript I first started years ago. I can’t say for certain which of your above edit rounds I’m up to. All I can say it is labelled #13 on the computer, but half of what went before is now a separate manuscript awaiting its fate in front of a publisher. So I guess I am adding extra water to my initial blob and watching it get messier before deciding which darlings get killed in the next round. I’ve printed this as a reminder.
ps I may not always comment, but if you see a like, rest assured I’ve read your post, and am not merely paying lip service.
Ah, yes, I’ve killed many of my darlings over the years. Delighted to hear from you, Gwendoline.
The Shakespeare one’s my fav😂
Loved the Bard and E. L. Doctorow. 🤣🤣