How to write

Never write on a subject until you have read yourself full of it. - Jean Paul

Books choose their authors; the act of creation is not entirely a rational and conscious one. - Salman Rushdie

It is excellent discipline for an author to feel that he must say all that he has to say in the fewest possible words, or his readers is sure to skip them. - John Ruskin

Writing is a question of finding a certain rhythm. I compare it to the rhythms of jazz. Much of the time life is a sort of rhythmic progression of three characters. If one tells oneself that life is like that, one feels it less arbitrary. - Francoise Sagan

The man who writes about himself and his own time is the only man who writes about all people and about all time. - George Bernard Shaw

Most writers regard the truth as their most valuable possession, and therefore are economical in its use. - Mark Twain

As to the adjective, when in doubt strike it out. - Mark Twain

Mostly, we authors must repeat ourselves — that’s the truth. We have two or three great moving experiences in our lives — experiences so great and moving that it doesn’t seem at the time that anyone else has been so caught up and pounded and dazzled and astonished and beaten and broken and rescued and illuminated and rewarded and humbled in just that way ever before. - Unknown

You don’t write because you want to say something; you write because you’ve got something to say. - Unknown

Writing is simple. First you have to make sure you have plenty of paper… sharp pencils… typewriter ribbon. Then put your belly up to your desk… roll a sheet of paper into the typewriter… and stare at it until beads of blood appear on your forehead. - Unknown

Often I think writing is a sheer paring away of oneself leaving always something thinner, barer, more meager. - Unknown

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

You can never correct your work well until you have forgotten it. - Voltaire

I love being a writer, what I can’t stand is the paperwork. - Peter de Vries

This morning I took out a comma and this afternoon I put it back in again. - Oscar Wilde