Creative writing is one of the most popular arts these days. In order to be the best, you need to learn from the best. Therefore, we have put together a collection of inspiring quotes from successful authors to help you succeed.
“Advice to young writers? Always the same advice: learn to trust our own judgment, learn inner independence, learn to trust that time will sort the good from the bad – including your own bad.” ― Doris Lessing
Lolita, The Cement Garden, The Lord of the Rings are just a few examples of books that would have never been written, if the authors have had some sort of inhibitions. Following Lessing’s advice, try to respect your ideas. If you believe in them, everything will come together in the end. You need to stand by your talent, and if you do, others will believe in you, too.
“Everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” – Sylvia Plath
Remember that you must be your harshest critic. Don’t be afraid of who you are, of your ideas and techniques. Above all, trust your judgments and if you feel like you’ve made the right call, just go for it!
“First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college.” ― Kurt Vonnegut
The principle of good writing is to move, not to show off. Kurt Vonnegut is teaching you that you should stop focusing on the form and pay more attention to the substance. While complicated linguistic and grammatical structures will win you the approval of academics, your readers will most probably get annoyed and distracted.
“Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” – E.L. Doctorow
OK, so you’ve got a great idea and you are wondering what’s next? I’ve got some great news for you – you don’t need to worry about that yet! Just keep up the good work and the story will evolve sooner than you may think. It may sound like a cliché, but that’s how it works. And one more thing – don’t think about publicity yet. It can take the focus of what’s important and kill your creativity.
“Protect the time and space in which you write. Keep everybody away from it, even the people who are most important to you.” — Zadie Smith
If the ideas are stockpiling in your head, don’t let them go away. Write them down, as they won’t stay in your memory forever. Every successful author has developed a signature writing routine to stay organized and inspired. Zadie Smith advises to find a comfortable workplace where you will avoid the distractions of the outside world.
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time — or the tools — to write. Simple as that.” – Stephen King
A great author needs to learn too. Perfected writing skills is what distinguishes the great ones from the mediocre. Remember that writing is talent and skills – a great idea means nothing if you don’t know how to put it on paper.
The world of literature constantly craves for new voices and promising talents. If there is a book you wish to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you have a chance to do it. It may be your time to shine!
Cindy Boesel works at BizStats.co.uk. She is an avid reader and a classic novel lover. She’s also interested in the con