One reason I write is to examine other ways the world could be.
– Kate Elliott
Category: Quotable
Quotable 335
The purpose of the writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.
– Bernard Malamud
Quotable 334
Revision is when you first get to recognize the distance between what you wanted to write, what you thought you were writing, and what you actually did write. That recognition often makes you want to throw up.
– Carolyn See
Quotable 333
The first rule of writing fiction: Make me care.
– Kurt Busiek
Quotable 332
Story problems are going to happen. If you never have story problems it means you’re not working hard enough to tell stories in an original, surprising, unexpected way.
– Ken Levine
Quotable 331
Four basic premises of writing: clarity, brevity, simplicity and humanity.
– William Zinsser
Quotable 330
Art is a summoning of attention. To create it requires the highest directed focus, as does experiencing it.
– Sven Birkerts
Quotable 329
A writer is a descendant of other writers.
– Octavio Paz
Quotable 328
Books aren’t about places or premises, just like watching sports isn’t about the stadium or the sponsors. It’s about the people.
– J.S. Morin
Quotable 327
Treat all your secondary characters like they think the book’s about them.
– Jocelyn Hughes