FROM ONE OF US TO ALL OF US

Quotes from famous authors to aspiring writers in the cafe

"You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown ups, then you write it for children." MADELEINE L'ENGLE
" If you don't have time to read, you don't have time to write. Simple as that." STEPHEN KING
"Substitute "damn" every time you're inclined to write "very", your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be." MARK TWAIN
"If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." . TONI MORRISON
"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
"Let me live, love and say it well in good sentences."
SYLVIA PLATE
"Tears are words that need to be written."
PAULO COELHO
"... Writing comes from reading and reading is the finest teacher of how to write."
ANNIE PROULX
" Writing is like sex. First you do it for love, then you do it for your friends and then you'll do it for money."
VIRGINIA WOOLF
"As a writer, you should not judge, you should understand."
ERNEST HEMINGWAY
"A blank piece of paper is God's way of telling us how hard it is to be God."
SIDNEY SHELDON
" I went years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged."
ERICA JONG
" It is perfectly okay to write garbage, as long as you edit brilliantly."
C.J. CHERRYH
"If you haven't got an idea, write a story anyway."
WILLIAM CAMPBELL GAULT
" The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write. But he must by no means live and write for the purpose of making money."
KARL MARX
"Start writing. No matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on."
LOUIS L'AMOUR
"Write the kind of story you would like to read. People will give you all sorts of advice about writing, but if you are not writing something you like, no one else will like it either."
MEG CABOT

Author's Note

At one point in their lives, these famous authors were where we are now, at the bottom of the mountain looking up

Reviews

[Giulia King]

"Tears are words that need to be written." That quote stood out the most for me. Thank you for sharing so many amazing quotes from amazing writers, KC.

[Dave]

I salute you for the time you took to research and compile this collection of advice. I have already reread it several times and each time they hit home. Thank you for the very much for the needed kick in the pants.

Take care - Dave

[Cherrie]

I love this, saved it and read it twice :)

[Mrudula Rani]

Every time I come across one of these beautiful statements of the famous authors, I copy and save it. Thank you for compiling them all here for every ones pleasure.

[sette]

and they succeeded despite the many rejections and failures

[Jacob Clifford]

Great collection of quotes. It's great to have other people's wisdom to grow from. I've never been much of a fan of quotes but know many are; I'm sure they'll get a lot of use from this quote wall. Hopefully, it was useful for you, as well.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

one thing i always tell my writing students in the English classes i teach..."write something that you would want to read yourself"
"if you think it is boring and shallow and too generalized, then don't shove it on me" (jacob erin-cilberto)---

i especially like the Sylvia Plath and Ernest Hemingway quotes...

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

KC, this is truly a precious gift you give us. Words of literary wisdom. I will save this to re-read many times. Thank you my friend!