14 Best Quotes By Authors About Writing

In this age of increasing technology and constant access to various media channels, it seems there is never a shortage of information at our fingertips. This leads to people being more “social” online (a theory about which I am still skeptical, but that’s for another day). And then, inevitably, the best quotes start flowing.

They are meant to be relatable, or inspirational, or just plain funny.

I’m not going to pretend I haven’t indulged. When talented people share their thoughts on a subject, others should listen. It’s no different in the writing world. For me, while I enjoy a good laugh, the words that resonate are often words of encouragement or motivation from writers I admire. So for this short post, I have compiled some of the best quotes by authors about writing.


Here are some of the best quotes by authors about writing:


“If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.”

― Elmore Leonard

“I don’t exactly know what I mean by that, but I mean it.” 

― J.D. Salinger

“This is how you do it: You sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it’s done.”

― Neil Gaiman

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

― J.K. Rowling

“If you hate me it is because I have morals.”

― Philipp Meyer, The Son

“If you are using dialogue ― say it aloud as you write it. Only then will it have the sound of speech.”

― John Steinbeck

“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”

― Ernest Hemingway

“The first sentence can’t be written until the final sentence is written.”

― Joyce Carol Oates

“I never know what I think about something until I read what I’ve written on it.” 

― William Faulkner

“I try to leave out the parts that people skip.”

― Elmore Leonard

“I’m always pretending that I’m sitting across from somebody. I’m telling them a story, and I don’t want them to get up until it’s finished.”

― James Patterson

“There’s more beauty in truth, even if it is dreadful beauty.”

― John Steinbeck, East of Eden

“Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens.” 

― Ray Bradbury

“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” 

― Ernest Hemingway

Published by Ed A. Murray

Ed A. Murray is an author, freelance writer, digital marketer and blogger dedicated to impactful storytelling. He writes about writing, books, marketing and life, and has published three books of fiction.

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