Saturday, March 9, 2019

The Things Authors Say by Nancy Fraser #RomanceGems


As authors, we often look to other writers for inspiration. I thought I’d share some of my favorite writing-related quotes.

Writers on Writing:

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. - Douglas Adams

There are three rules for writing. Unfortunately, no one can agree what they are. - Somerset Maugham

The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book. - Mickey Spillane

If the sex scene doesn't make you want to do it - whatever it is they're doing - it hasn't been written right. - Sloan Wilson

Writers on Editing:

Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it's the only way you can do anything really good. - William Faulkner

It is perfectly okay to write garbage--as long as you edit brilliantly. - C. J. Cherryh

Never throw up on an editor. - Ellen Datlow



Writing Self-Deprecation:

It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I was too famous. - Robert Benchley

I am irritated by my own writing. I am like a violinist whose ear is true, but whose fingers refuse to reproduce precisely the sound he hears within. - Gustave Flaubert

Having been unpopular in high school is not just cause for book publication. - Fran Lebowitz

A Writer’s Obsession:

We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to. - Somerset Maugham

When writing a novel, that’s pretty much entirely what life turns into: 'House burned down. Car stolen. Cat exploded. Did 1500 easy words, so all in all it was a pretty good day.' - Neil Gaiman

A writer never has a vacation. For a writer life consists of either writing or thinking about writing. - Eugene Ionesco

Just for Fun:

He was such a bad writer, they revoked his poetic license. - Milton Berle

~ ~ ~

Contest Updates:

Congratulations to Shelley Bailey, the Week 1 winner of our month-long Comment and Win contest!

Don't forget our March Rafflecopter drawing that’s up and running for two unique opportunities to help one of our authors name a character in an upcoming book!

Until my next turn on the blog, stay happy, healthy and well read!

Nancy

11 comments:

  1. I love some of these, Nancy. Way to go, Shelley Bailey!

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  2. Congrats to the winner!

    I think the challenging part of being a writer isn't the writing per se (OK, it is too), but all the rest: editing, making the cover, marketing, marketing, marketing.

    You rock, girls. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.


    My contact info: adissidente [at] gmail [dot] com

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  3. I loved all of the quotes. Snoopy won out for me though.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  4. I love these quotes. They are fantastic.
    debby236 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love these. Neil Gaiman has another quote I share often to aspiring and new writers: "Remember, when people tell you something wrong or doesn't work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong."

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  6. Thank you for the prize for the Comment and Win, it will be put to good use and thank you for the giggle at the end of a very long day with this blog! Those quotes are fantastic!

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  7. These quotes were a lot of fun, Nancy!

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  8. harperyn [at] outlook [dot] com writes:
    Congratss to Shelley!

    Releasing a book is like immaculate conception and giving birth.
    It starts with the writer. The seed is planted in her head.
    Then she needs guidance and support along the way.
    You can't do it alone!
    Just like a good doctor/doula, you need an excellent editor.

    **Spelling mistakes are the bane of my reading existence.**

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    Replies
    1. *drats* where is the edit button for these commments? :P
      *omit the last "s" in congrats

      Delete
  9. Love your post, Nancy. Everything said was spot-on. Love the Milton Berle quote.

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