“Writing is grunt work - you need to have self-motivation, perseverance, and faith... talent is the smallest part of it.” Quote by Jodi Picoult
“If you don't believe in yourself, and you don't have the fortitude to make that dream happen, why should the hotshots in the publishing world take a chance on you? I don't believe that you need an MFA to be a writer, but I do think you need to take some good workshops.” IfsThinkingWorldNeedsShouldBelieveDreamHappensChanceDon't BelieveBelieve In YourselfPublishingGood WorkBelieve In YouFortitudeTake A ChanceWorkshops Author:Jodi Picoult
“You need to learn to write on demand, and to get critiqued without flinching. When someone can rip your work to shreds without it feeling as though your arm has been hacked off, you're ready to send your novel off to an agent.” NeedsWritingHas BeensFeelingsNovelReadyArmsDemandAgentsRipHacked Author:Jodi Picoult
“When you finally start to write something, do not let yourself stop...even when you are convinced it's the worst garbage ever. This is the biggest caveat for beginning writers. Instead, force yourself to finish what you began, and THEN go back and edit it.” WritingForceWorstConvincedGarbageEditsBeginning Writers Author:Jodi Picoult
“In a mad moment, my family and I purchased a home in Maine because it's the place in the world that my wife loves better than any other place or any other human, and so I have committed my life and what had once been my economic security that has now returned to insecurity, to a patch of painful, rocky land on the shores of horrible, cold waters to a place where people go in the summer to experience autumn because leaves start falling on August 1.” PeopleWorldHumansMomentsHomeFallWaterLove IsWifeEconomicLandSecurityColdSummerMy FamilyMadPainfulCommittedMy WifeHorribleInsecurityAutumnShorePatchesAugustPlaces In The WorldMaineCold WaterEconomic SecurityWives Love Author:John Hodgman
“Elwyn Brooks White was a very Maine personality which is, "I hate everyone and everyone stay away from me."” HateWhitePersonalityI HateBrooksMaineI Hate EveryoneStay Away From Me Author:John Hodgman
“Maine's motto is "Vacationland," but as far as I'm concerned, it should be, "Maine: Putting the 'spite' in hospitality since 1820."” ShouldConcernedSpiteMottoHospitalityMaine Author:John Hodgman
“I am a marginally employed person who can escape with my school teacher wife to the waters of Maine for much of the summer.” PersonsSchoolWaterTeacherWifeSummerEmployedMaineSchool Teachers Author:John Hodgman
“I've only ever been mistaken for myself. People draw a lot of comparisons to all of the round-faced, mustached men of entertainment that make me cringe and sick to my stomach about how the world really sees me and they're right.” PeopleMenWorldDrawsSickRoundsEntertainmentComparisonStomachMistakenCringe Author:John Hodgman
“The way I challenge myself is by writing something that really engages me, that doesn't have an easy answer, and isn't always an easy book to write.” WayWritingBookEasyChallengesAnswersEasy Answers Author:Jodi Picoult
“The only time I've ever been mistaken for someone else is - and this arguable still - when a person came up to me on the boardwalk of Ocean City, New Jersey and said, "You look a lot like that guy from computer ads" and I said, "There is a reason because I am that guy," and the guy looked at me for a minute, laughed and said, "That's a funny joke, but you really do look like him." He thought I was not me.” LooksPersonsSaidStillsReasonGuyCitiesMinutesOceanComputerJokesLaughedAdsMistakenOnly TimeJerseyThat GuyNew JerseyFunny JokesBoardwalks Author:John Hodgman