Friday, May 25, 2012

Writing Quote

This is perhaps my most favorite writing quote of all time. I love that I can change what I write, smooth it, and polish it until it shines.

It also relieves the pressure of getting it right the first time. That phrase or paragraph that doesn't quite convey what I want it to can easily be changed.

What is your favorite writing quote?

17 comments:

  1. Ha ha!! I just posted this on pinterest because it made me laugh so hard!!

    Happy weekend!

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    1. Great minds think alike, Heidi! ;-)

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  2. Love this quote! One of my favorites is George Balanchine's "My muse comes to me on union time." — because he could only choreograph when he had (union) dancers and a (union) pianist. At least we writers can't complain about that....

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    1. Good quote and one I'd never heard of. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for sharing! :-)

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  3. I love this quote too. And I love how you put it-smoothing and polishing what you write until it shines. It's so true:)

    I've revisited some of my first bits of fiction, and done some smoothing and polishing. I love that I can do this a long time after I first did the writing-that the writing experience I've gained in the meantime makes those original pieces so much richer:)

    Have a wonderful 3 day weekend, my friend!!

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    1. So true, Valerie! It's amazing how much we can grow and stretch as a writer, and then we can go back and improve on what we've already done.

      I hope you have a wonderful weekend, too!

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  4. I was just saying something like this to my mom yesterday. I'd somehow gotten my words mixed up while talking, and I told her that's the nice thing about being a writer—you've got time to change things afterwards! Can't stop words from coming out wrong when you're speaking. :)

    This is one of my all-time favorite quotes: "I mean, what can you say about how you write your books? What I mean is, first you've got to think of something, and then when you've thought of it you've got to force yourself to sit down and write it. That's all." ~ Mrs. Oliver in Dead Man’s Folly by Agatha Christie

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    1. Oh, good quote, Elisabeth. And I love Agatha Christie!!!

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  5. This is such a great quote; I needed to hear it! Contemplating making a huge change to a 114,000 word manuscript that just wasn't going anywhere. Feeling rather daunted by the re-writing task ahead of me...!!

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    1. Yeah, I know how daunting that can be...which is why I have left many a manuscript in the dust. ;-) Take it one section at a time and remember, you can ALWAYS change it. Good luck!

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  6. I love that quote, Melissa. So, so true. As I'm half asleep this morning, I'm so glad I don't have to tackle brain surgery. :)

    One of my favourite writerly quotes (I have so many), is this one from Anton Chekhov:
    Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.

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    1. I love that quote, too, Shirley! In fact, I have it on my blog in the right hand column under "Wise Advice." Great minds think alike!

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  7. I find that very cheering, given the morning I'm currently having! thanks Melissa. I dont have a specific writing one, but I love Helen Keller's quotes - one of them is: "Never bend your head. Hold it hight. Look the world in the eye."

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    1. Helen Keller was so very brave. I admire her a great deal, and that is a wonderful quote.

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