by @AnnieDaylon
I’m drawn to quotes about writing. Here are ten of my favorites:
1. “There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” ~ W. Somerset Maugham
2. “Be obscure clearly.” ~ E. B. White
3. “I do not like to write. I like to have written.” ~ Gloria Steinem
4. “Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.” ~ Gene Fowler
5. “When you take stuff from one writer, it’s plagiarism but when you take it from many writers, it’s research.” ~ Wilson Mizner
6. “Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted.” ~ Jules Renard
7. “Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.” ~ Author Unknown
8. “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” ~ Winston Churchill
9. “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” ~ Douglas Adams
10. “If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write.” ~ Stephen King
Got any favorites you think I should add? Please let me know.
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My best to you,
Bonus quote: “Strong nouns. Strong verbs. Kick descriptors to the curb.” ~ Me
“Two hours of writing fiction leaves this writer completely drained. For those two hours he has been in a different place with totally different people.” ― Roald Dahl
I don’t completely agree with the two hours, but the idea is correct. There are times that when I stop writing, I feel disconnected from reality. I feel as if I know the characters and the world of my book better than I know my own family. It can be jarring and tiring to assimilate back into the ‘real world.’
It’s the opposite for me: fiction writing energizes me. Love the freedom of creating, especially in initial stages. Then comes the editing; it is there that I can relate to Dahl’s quote.
I’m writing historical fiction right now, spending hours with characters who lived in the early 20th century. A total disconnect. Sometimes it takes me a couple of hours to get into their heads. Even after I finish writing for the day, they are still dancing around, clambering for attention. And I totally agree with you: it is jarring to return to the present. But of course I do. And the next day? I do it all over again. Ah, the life of a writer.