“Don't be pretentious is my first advice to young writers. This is the big problem - just because you're getting an MFA doesn't mean you have to write for the Academy. Be true to your personality. Don't temper your personality down with words. Don't build defensive fortresses around yourself with words - words are your friends.” WritingFirstsMeanProblemBigsYoungAdvicePersonalityBeing TrueTemperAcademyPretentiousBig ProblemsFortressesYoung Writers Author:Gary Shteyngart
“The advice I continually give to young writers is this, "Learn to paint pictures with words." Not just once upon a time, but ... In the long secret dust of ages, beneath a blue forgotten sky, where trade winds caress the sun bleached shores of unknown realms ... See, as much as there are words in poetry, there is a poetry in words. Use it, stay faithful to the path you have set your heart upon and follow it.” GivingWritingHeartLongUseAgeYoungSecretSunPathSkyAdviceWindBlueTradePaintForgottenDustFaithfulRealmsShoreOnce Upon A TimeCaressYoung Writers Author:Brian Jacques
“I'm often asked how I write books, but I don't think my approach is suitable for everyone. If I walked into a creative writing class, all I could say to them was 'I tend to make it up as I go along.' I'm not sure that's brilliant advice.” IfsThinkingWritingBookClassCreativeAdviceApproachBrilliantNot SureCreative WritingSuitable Author:Ian Rankin
“When an idea comes, spend silent time with it. Remember Keats's idea of Negative Capability and Kipling's advice to "drift, wait and obey". Along with your gathering of hard data, allow yourself also to dream your idea into being.” WritingIdeasHardDreamRememberWaitingAdviceNegativeSilentDataCapabilityGatheringKipling Author:Rose Tremain
“Had I to give advice to writers (and I do not think they need it, because everyone has to find out things for himself), I would tell them simply this; I would ask them to tamper as little as they can with their own work. I do not think tinkering does any good. The moment comes when one has found out what one can do - when one has found one's natural voice, one's rhythm. Then I do not think that slight emendations should prove useful.” ThinkingNeedsGivingShouldWritingLittlesDoeMomentsAsksFoundVoiceCan DoNaturalAdviceProveRhythmTinkering Author:Jorge Luis Borges
“Writing is hard work, and fun, and requires you to keep your backside in a chair when you would sometimes like to put it elsewhere. So the only wisdom is the advice to keep at it, I guess.” WritingSometimesHardFunAdviceHard WorkChairsElsewhereBacksides Author:Lois Lowry
“The best writing advice I had was [in] ‘Heinlein’s Rules for Writers’ by (American science fiction author) Robert A. Heinlein. His first rule is that you must write, and I was already doing that, but his second rule is, ‘You must finish what you write,’ and that had a big impact on me.” WritingFirstsBigsFictionAdviceImpactScience FictionWriting AdviceBig ImpactRobert Heinlein Author:George R. R. Martin
“I met a young woman the other day, and she said, what advice would you have for a writer, and I said it would be to work every day... Your job is to write. The rest of it will take care of itself. But, generally, it seems ... you know how that is, you meet people and they have a talent for self-promotion. Those are the pushy people. And you know their writing's not going to be any good, because that's not their talent.” PeopleKnowsWritingSaidSelfSeemsWould BeCareJobsYoungKnow HowAdviceTalentMetsTake CareYoung WomenPromotionSelf PromotionPushy Author:David Sedaris
“Advice to Persons About to Write History - Don't.” WritingPersonsHistoryAdvice Book:Historical Essays and Studies: Great Event Source: Historical Essays and Studies: Great Event
“The worst advice a young writer can get is "Write what you know." Imagination is more important than experience.” KnowsWritingImportantYoungImaginationWorstAdviceYoung Writers Author:Joe Haldeman
“Don't apologize, justify or rationalize bad art or bad writing. If you do, you are part of it.” IfsWritingArtAdviceJustifyApologizingRationalizeBad Writing Author:Walter Darby Bannard
“I had neither expert aid nor advice. I studied no courses in writing; until a year or so ago, I never read a book by anybody advising writers how to write.” WritingYearsBookCoursesAdviceAidsExperts Author:Robert E. Howard
“He who will not listen to any advice, nor be corrected in his writings, is a rank pedant.” WritingAdvicePedants Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“My advice to women who habitually gravitate toward musicians is that they learn how to play an instrument and start making music themselves. Not only will they see that it's not that hard, but sometimes I think women just want to be the very thing they think they want to sleep with. Because if you're bright enough--no offense, Tawny Kitaen--sleeping with a musician probably won't be enough for you to feel good about yourself. Even if he writes you a song for your birthday. Don't you know that a musician who writes a song for you is like a baker you're dating making you a cake? Aim higher.” IfsThinkingKnowsWantFeelsWritingSometimesHardEnoughPlaySongSleepAdviceHigherMusicianDatingAimInstrumentsFeel GoodAbout YourselfCakeOffenseBakersAim HighWant To Sleep Author:Julie Klausner