Just be patient, she told herself, and with the mounting pages, the strength of her writing fist grew.
Markus ZusakRead
I've heard some writers say things like, 'Well, I'm a professional writer. I only start books I know I can finish.' I look at it maybe the other way: I only want to write books I'm not sure I can write.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the value of challenging oneself in creative endeavors rather than only pursuing safe and guaranteed projects.
Markus Zusak expresses a philosophy where the excitement of writing comes from tackling uncertain projects. Rather than solely selecting stories that he believes he can complete successfully, he prefers to engage with stories that pose a challenge, suggesting that true artistic growth and fulfillment lie in embracing the unpredictable journey of creation.
Themes
CreativityWritingChallengesArtistryGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
During a writing workshop, one might share this quote to encourage participants to take creative risks.
More from Markus Zusak
All quotes →It felt as though the whole globe was dressed in snow. Like it has pulled it on, the way you pull on a sweater. Next to the train line, footprints were sunken to their shins. Trees wore blankets of ice. As you may expect, someone has died.
Markus ZusakRead
Because you don't learn anything unless you can find the patience to read. TV takes that away from you. It robs you from your mind.
Markus ZusakRead
Or had she always loved him? It's likely. Restricted as she was from speaking, she wanted him to kiss her. She wanted him to drag her hand across and pull her over. It didn't matter where. Her mouth, her neck, her cheek. Her skin was empty for it, waiting.
Markus ZusakRead
I think it's a mistake to think, 'Am I going to write a young adult book, or do I desperately want to write a book for adults?' I think the better ambition is to try to write someone's favorite book, because those categorizations of adult, young adult, become kind of superfluous.
Markus ZusakRead
I could introduce myself properly, but it's not really necessary. You will know me well enough and soon enough, depending on a diverse range of variables. It suffices to say that at some point in time, I will be standing over you, as genially as possible. Your soul will be in my arms. A color will be perched on my shoulder. I will carry you gently away.
Markus ZusakRead
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There are a couple of strategies for writing about an absence or writing about a loss. One can create the person that was lost, develop the character of the fiancee. There's another strategy that one can employ, maybe riskier... Make the reader suffer the loss of the character in a more literal way.
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When you write, you want to get rid of the world, don’t you? Of course you do. When you’re writing, you’re creating your own worlds.
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