Quotes on Editing And Writing

Sit down and put down everything that comes into your head and then you're a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff's worth, without pity, and destroy most of it.

As to the adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.

The profession of book writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business.

I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil.

I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter.

Easy reading is damn hard writing.

Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.

No passion in the world is equal to the passion to alter someone else's draft.

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.

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.