During the course of my brief dabble into the world of writing, I have quickly come to terms with how difficult being a writer actually is.
As most indie authors I have a full time job, numerous hobbies, with the addition of an 18 month son vying for my time. This makes sitting down and writing very difficult, and easy to put off.
Keeping yourself motivated to write the story in your mind, when your life is busy, or you reach a mental block is hard, but no-one ever said being a successful writer was easy!
Luckily you are not alone; others have been there before, and their words of how they preserved can inspire when you need it the most.
Here are a collection of quotes I have come across that helped inspire me. I suggest you do the same as me; bookmark this page, and the next time you are struggling to find time, lacking confidence or need help overcoming a block, then come back to get the inspiration you need!
"Writing a book is like telling a joke and having to wait 2 years to know whether or not it was funny" - Alain de Botton
"Just do it. It doesn’t matter if people like it. As long as you’re happy" - David Bailey
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” ― William Arthur
"I believe that writing is derivative. I think good writing comes from good reading." - Charles Kuralt
“This business of becoming conscious, of being a writer is ultimately about asking yourself, How alive am I willing to be?” - Anne Lamott
"When you catch an adjective - kill it!" - Twain
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” ― André Gide
"You have to write a million words before you find your voice as a writer." - Henry Miller
"If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it." ~ Elmore Leonard
"There are 3 rules for writing the novel, unfortunately noone knows what they are." - W. Somerset Maugham
"I'm writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shovelling sand into the sandbox so that later I can build castles." - Rachel Stirling
"A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author." - G.K. Chesterton
"If writing seems hard, it’s because it is hard." - William Zinsser
"You can't think yourself out of a writing block; you have to write yourself out of a thinking block" – John Rogers
"Good writing evokes sensation in the reader. Not the fact that it's raining, but the feeling of being rained upon" - E.L. Doctorow
"Love what you do and do what you love. Don’t listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it." - Ray Bradbury
"The hardest part is starting to write." - Michael Crichton
"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” - Jack London
"If we had to say what writing is, we would have to define it essentially as an act of courage." - Cynthia Ozick
And here are some of my own wise words!
"If you have never made a mistake then it means you have never tried something new - experience is another word for failed!"
"People ask me am I a writer or an author? My answer is neither - I am a story teller, merely letting you all into my world."
"Anyone can write a book, but what separates authors from those who dream is dedication & determination!"
"The greatest novel ever written started with the penning of the first word - start today, believe & who knows what the future will be!"
"No one looks back on their life and regrets writing a novel, but plenty regret not writing one!"
"Don't strive to be the best writer, be the best you. There's no right or wrong, be honest, develop your own style and most of all enjoy it!"
"As a writer don't be afraid to develop your own style - if there's no one else like you out there then that's a good thing!"
"In my mind all it takes for your book to be a success is to find one stranger who loves your work as much as you do. They are out there; keep searching and you will find them!"
If you know of any other great writing quotes then please feel free to add them in the comment section below and share them with everyone else!
As most indie authors I have a full time job, numerous hobbies, with the addition of an 18 month son vying for my time. This makes sitting down and writing very difficult, and easy to put off.
Keeping yourself motivated to write the story in your mind, when your life is busy, or you reach a mental block is hard, but no-one ever said being a successful writer was easy!
Luckily you are not alone; others have been there before, and their words of how they preserved can inspire when you need it the most.
Here are a collection of quotes I have come across that helped inspire me. I suggest you do the same as me; bookmark this page, and the next time you are struggling to find time, lacking confidence or need help overcoming a block, then come back to get the inspiration you need!
"Writing a book is like telling a joke and having to wait 2 years to know whether or not it was funny" - Alain de Botton
"Just do it. It doesn’t matter if people like it. As long as you’re happy" - David Bailey
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” ― William Arthur
"I believe that writing is derivative. I think good writing comes from good reading." - Charles Kuralt
“This business of becoming conscious, of being a writer is ultimately about asking yourself, How alive am I willing to be?” - Anne Lamott
"When you catch an adjective - kill it!" - Twain
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” ― André Gide
"You have to write a million words before you find your voice as a writer." - Henry Miller
"If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it." ~ Elmore Leonard
"There are 3 rules for writing the novel, unfortunately noone knows what they are." - W. Somerset Maugham
"I'm writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shovelling sand into the sandbox so that later I can build castles." - Rachel Stirling
"A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author." - G.K. Chesterton
"If writing seems hard, it’s because it is hard." - William Zinsser
"You can't think yourself out of a writing block; you have to write yourself out of a thinking block" – John Rogers
"Good writing evokes sensation in the reader. Not the fact that it's raining, but the feeling of being rained upon" - E.L. Doctorow
"Love what you do and do what you love. Don’t listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it." - Ray Bradbury
"The hardest part is starting to write." - Michael Crichton
"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” - Jack London
"If we had to say what writing is, we would have to define it essentially as an act of courage." - Cynthia Ozick
And here are some of my own wise words!
"If you have never made a mistake then it means you have never tried something new - experience is another word for failed!"
"People ask me am I a writer or an author? My answer is neither - I am a story teller, merely letting you all into my world."
"Anyone can write a book, but what separates authors from those who dream is dedication & determination!"
"The greatest novel ever written started with the penning of the first word - start today, believe & who knows what the future will be!"
"No one looks back on their life and regrets writing a novel, but plenty regret not writing one!"
"Don't strive to be the best writer, be the best you. There's no right or wrong, be honest, develop your own style and most of all enjoy it!"
"As a writer don't be afraid to develop your own style - if there's no one else like you out there then that's a good thing!"
"In my mind all it takes for your book to be a success is to find one stranger who loves your work as much as you do. They are out there; keep searching and you will find them!"
If you know of any other great writing quotes then please feel free to add them in the comment section below and share them with everyone else!