Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotations on Writers

Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he envisaged or planned.
Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) Argentine Writer, Essayist, Poet

There are two kinds of writers—the great ones who can give you truths, and the lesser ones, who can only give you themselves.
Clifton Fadiman (1904–99) American Author, Radio Personality

Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon.
William Zinsser (1922–2015) American Writer, Editor, Literary Critic, Teacher

If you want to be a writer-stop talking about it and sit down and write!
Jackie Collins (1937–2015) English Romance Novelist

Good sense is both the first principal and the parent source of good writing.
Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet

Every writer since the beginning of time, just like other people, has been afflicted by what [a] friend of mine calls “the fleas of life”-you know, colds, hangovers, bills, sprained ankles and little nuisances of one sort or another.
William Styron (1925–2006) American Novelist, Essayist, Writer

Good writing excites me, and makes life worth living.
Harold Pinter (1930–2008) British Playwright

Volume depends precisely on the writer’s having been able to sit in a room every day, year after year, alone.
Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher

It’s hard enough to write a good drama, it’s much harder to write a good comedy, and it’s hardest of all to write a drama with comedy. Which is what life is.
Jack Lemmon (1925–2001) American Actor, Musician

Writing is the incurable itch that possesses many.
Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet

For a creative writer possession of the “truth” is less important than emotional sincerity.
George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist

Good writers are those who keep the language efficient. That is to say, keep it accurate, keep it clear.
Ezra Pound (1885-1972) American Poet, Translator, Critic

The wastebasket is a writer’s best friend.
Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902–91) Polish-born American Children’s Books Writer, Novelist, Short Story Writer

I’m the kind of writer that people think other people are reading.
V. S. Naipaul (1932–2018) Trinidadian-British Novelist, Short-story Writer

Thus, with child to speak, and helpless in my throes, biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite: Fool! said my muse to me, look in thy heart, and write.
Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier

The first essential in writing about anything is that the writer should have no experience of the matter.
Isadora Duncan (1877–1927) American Dancer, Choreographer

I always write a good first line, but I have trouble in writing the others.
Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright

People want to know why I do this, why I write such gross stuff. I like to tell them that I have the heart of a small boy—and I keep it in a jar on my desk.
Stephen King (b.1947) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Screenwriter, Columnist, Film Director

Even the best writer has to erase sometimes.
Spanish Proverb

The trouble began with Forster. After him it was considered ungentlemanly to write more than five or six novels.
Anthony Burgess (1917–93) English Novelist, Critic, Composer

Some American writers who have known each other for years have never met in the daytime or when both were sober.
James Thurber

Writers are the engineers of human souls.
Joseph Stalin (1878–1953) Soviet Leader

The aim, if reached or not, makes great the life: try to be Shakespeare, leave the rest to fate!
Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet

To write well, express yourself like common people, but think like a wise man. Or, think as wise men do, but speak as the common people do.
Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar

All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath.
Unknown

The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write, but he must by no means live and write for the purpose of making money.
Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist

To note an artist’s limitations is but to define his talent. A reporter can write equally well about everything that is presented to his view, but a creative writer can do his best only with what lies within the range and character of his deepest sympathies.
Willa Cather (1873–1947) American Novelist, Writer

Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. The talent of a writer is his ability to give them their separate names, identities, personalities and have them relate to other characters living with him.
Mel Brooks (b.1926) American Film Actor, Screenwriter, Composer, Comedian, Actor

The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shock-proof, shit detector. This is the writer’s radar and all great writers have had it.
Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer

The profession of book writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business.
John Steinbeck (1902–68) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Journalist

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