Quotes About Writing

Even if I knew for certain that I would never have anything published again, and would never make another cent from it, I would still keep on writing.

I never became a writer for the money. I am a poet first. Even getting published is a miracle for poets.

I didn't get anything published until I was thirty-three, and yet I'd written five novels and six or seven plays. The plays, I should point out, were dreadful.

If I weren't musical, then I would have just published a book, you know? But I'm lucky enough to play piano, and so I use piano to convert my poems.

I was always ambitious - not to make money: to be published.

While I was writing I assumed it would be published under a pseudonym, and that liberated me: what I wrote was exactly what I wanted to read.

Well I don't write, I attempt to scribble here and there. And no, nothing ever so grand as being published.

The best way to learn to write is to read in the genre you might be interested in; then, you need to actually sit down and write. In a lot of cases, the first book you write will not get published. Do not get hung up on that. Start a second book.

I've been writing fiction since I was a kid. From the age of 15 to 25, I probably wrote more than 50 short stories, one of which was published in 'The Paris Review' in 1989.

It was more exciting to get that first book published, I think.

I published 'Rules of Civility' while I was still working. It became a best seller. I was working on this book, and then I decided to retire.

As always, a lot of bad books will be published. Some good books will be published, and you have to seek them out.

I've never been a true fan of the short story and have only published a single example of my own.

The difference is this: If you write a good book, it'll get published. If you have a great screenplay, there is no guarantee.

I couldn't have known 'Crank' was going to be published, let alone become a big hit. That book was very personal for me: I had to tell the story for myself.

My first published book, 'Story of a Girl', was the fourth book I wrote.

From the very beginning, I envisioned success as selling enough books so I could keep getting published and continue to write what I wanted to without compromising.

I have been writing poetry since 1975. My first poetry book was published in 1986.

I was so flattered that someone wanted me to write a book, I said I would. It was published in 1969.

If Truman hadn't published 'Answered Prayers' in parts, he'd have had the drive to finish it. The peacocks took it away from him.

Actually my first eight books were historical novels, but they were never published.

Write a million words before thinking about getting published.

Well - I started writing - probably in the early 60s and by say '65-'66 I had read most of the poetry that had been published - certainly in the 20 years prior to that.

The hard fact is that not everyone does get published.