writers-on-writing

Why do writers write? Why do actors act? Why do painters paint? It doesn't pay much, unless you're very successful. It's who we are.

Sometimes the writing just comes and we're like, oh yeah. Gotta love when that happens.

It seemed to me then that to have published a book - any kind of book - would be the greatest possible happiness I could ask from life.

I assure you, I've come to one of those natural breaks in the book, where one can walk away and let things go on working in the subconscious. It's true, don't look so unbelieving. It means I can afford to tear myself away from my view of the pigsties and go out on parole, as much as I like and you'll put up with.

Writing is what happens when the words in your head are overpowered by the words in your heart."J.L. Bond

Writing is easy. Writing is hard. It's a breeze and a struggle, just like life.

Writing is a little bit like prostitution. First you do it for love. Then you do it for a few friends. Then you do it for money.

I admire the person who can write it right off. Mencken once said that a person who thinks clearly can write well. But I don't think clearly--too many thoughts bump into one another. Trains of thought run on a track of the Central Nervous System--the New York Central Nervous System, to make it worse.

Proper writing ink comes in a bottle, can be swirled like brandy in a glass, and smells like apple blossom after rain.

It's an important thing and a necessary thing as a writer to always be reaching outside of yourself. They say write what you know. But what you know is rarely enough. You need to know more. But you've got to approach it with a lot of respect and humility. You owe it to the people and experience you're trying to understand. It's not a casual thing.

The beginning of every writing session is like setting down a road unknown.

Show me the contract.

Writing is a solitary occupation, except for Presidential speeches and sitcoms.

A Writer Must Have Text Appeal

Climax: It's all downhill from here.

Biographies are best when written chronologically. Boring people don't make for good biographies.

Writer's a lovers quarrel - encounters breathe the quill...

Some of the best characters are the most flawed characters.