Writers on Writing: A Book of Quotations

Writers on Writing brings together a plethora of phrases, quotable lines, quips and putdowns about the writing process. Arranged in themes that follow the stages from idea to final publication and beyond, this little book of quotations brings together words of wisdom and withering wit from famous and infamous writers across the ages about their own work and that of fellow writers. Themes on the publishing process include: getting started, first drafts, agents, editing, publication day, book tours; and on different genres, forms and writing styles, such as plot, character, dialogue. Other topics covered are: rivals, censorship, writer’s block, spelling, fame, money, plagiarism, and alcohol. The quotations are accompanied by their original source (where known), date and a short writer biographical note.

“A writer is a person who writes.” John Braine

“Our book is found to be a drug, no man needs it or heeds it. In the space of a year our publisher has disposed but of two copies.” Charlotte Bronte

“How rare, how precious is frivolity! How few writers can prostitute all their powers! They are always implying, ‘I am capable of higher things’.” E.M. Forster