7 Writing Quotes That (If Applied) Will Make You A Better Writer
Seven powerful quotes for writers
We love quotes so much because they contain nuggets and timeless wisdom from the most brilliant minds of both the past and present.
As we go through the vicissitudes of life, and career difficulties, quotes can provide us with much-needed inspiration and wisdom. The wisdom of quotes is extremely powerful when applied.
Let’s take a look at seven of my favorite quotes for writers.
This is the key to finding your voice
“To gain your voice, you must forget about having it heard” — Allen Ginsberg
As writers, we can all probably think back to a time when we were so infatuated with statistics; to the point that it dictated what we choose to write about.
You probably still battle with this in your everyday writing life.
In a bid to get your work recognized, it’s easy to relegate what you want to say in favor of what’s popular.
I see this a lot here on Medium.
When you put the need for recognition above getting your true voice and thoughts out there, you only end up attracting the wrong people.
Your writing isn’t meant for everybody. Say what you think and leave it to people to decide if what you say is relevant to them or not.
And this isn’t just limited to writing — take Instagram, for example. Even posting a simple photo becomes a lengthy process of editing, color correction, and resizing.
It just ends up taking the enjoyment out of creating and expressing yourself, and in turn, hurting your work.
Write to express, not impress.
Know this if you’re a perfectionist
“We’re all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes the master.” — Ernest Hemingway
There are no perfect writers.
Perfection is subjective. Take J.K. Rowling, for example.
She presented the same story to dozens of publishers and got rejected by all of them. But we all know how that turned out — that same story has now sold millions of copies and made a succession of blockbuster movies.
Why?
Because writing is subjective.
And that’s fine, we all have different tastes. For some people, the writing may not seem exciting, but for others, it will.
A good story will remain a good story no matter what. Just try to include the necessary elements like grammar, structure, etc.
You can’t give what you don’t have
“The greatest part of a writer’s time is spent reading, in order to write; a man will turn over half a library to make one book” — Samuel Johnson
You can’t conjure ideas from thin air. Ultimately, you’ll be limited to the quality of your thoughts and ideas.
Reading is a key part of the writing process. It’s how we:
- Discover our voice
- Obtain ideas and inspiration for our writing process
- Strengthen our communication and storytelling skills
- Understand different cultures and traditions
- Learn new words and expand our vocabulary
Furthermore, the best ideas often pop up as we do regular, everyday activities.
That’s why it’s advisable to always keep a notebook by your side. You can go digital and use a note-taking app instead.
Should you use simple or complex language?
“Style means the right words. The rest matters little”— Jules Renard
Use the right words, but what does that mean?
It means you should use language that your target audience is likely to understand and/or appreciate.
Some prefer simplicity because it allows them to add the little details with their own imagination, or allows them to clearly understand the subject without having to stop and look things up.
On the flip side, there are many readers who prefer complexity. Maybe they love seeing new words or phrases used in ways/contexts they haven’t witnessed before.
There are so many sound reasons to use simple language, just as there are for using complex language. Use the language that best suits your audience.
This is for the overthinkers
“I don’t over-intellectualize the production process. I try to keep it simple. Tell the damned story “— Tom Clancy
Overthinking is a result of perfectionism. You want to create the perfect intro even though you haven’t written a single word yet.
We’ve all been there. The amount of time we spend thinking about the fine details would often be enough to write a full draft.
It’s okay to think through your ideas and fine-tune the details. But not when it prevents you from actually writing anything.
It’s definitely easier to learn while taking action than when you’re thinking about taking action.
My biggest weapon against over-intellectualizing is the free writing technique:
- Write down all your thoughts.
- Don’t think about details like grammar and punctuation.
- Use placeholders to indicate places in the article where you’ll add content later on.
- Don’t filter anything or pressure yourself. Take your time.
The free writing technique not only eliminates the friction from your writing process but also makes it easy for you to go into the flow state, a state of intense, unbreakable focus.
Nothing is set until you’re done
“The first sentence isn’t written until the final sentence is written” — Joyce Carol
I would’ve probably been perplexed by this quote in my early days as a writer. But experience has taught me that it’s true.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to change the first sentences or intro during revision.
It’s gotten to a point where I no longer worry about getting it perfect on the first go anymore. Sometimes I even skip writing the intro altogether and just start writing the sections.
My belief is that everything will come together after I’m done with revisions.
Be ruthless when doing this
“When your story is ready for rewrite, cut it to the bone. Get rid of every excess ounce of fat. This is going to hurt, revising a story down to the bone essentials is always like murdering children, but it must be done” — Stephen King
Concise is better when it comes to writing. Don’t say something in 10 words if it can be said in 5.
If you do the following:
- Remove redundant words
- Get rid of clichés
- Replace passive voice with active voice
- Remove unnecessary scenes and characters
- Cut down dialogue tags
Your writing will become more specific, sharp and attention-grabbing. Our foremost goal as a storyteller is simply to keep the reader reading.
Dear writer, don’t let your challenges stop you from writing. Keep going!
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