Writer’s Corner: Words of Wisdom – Writing advice through the ages

Quoting the Experts

Jim Neighbors’ character, Gomer Pyle is always quoting the infamous Grandma Pyle, with words of wisdom for every occasion. As writers, we have many ‘Grandma Pyles’ to offer writing advice and advice on life, in general. Below you will find some of my favorites. Feel free to add your own favorites in the comments.

“Tales and adventures are the shadow truths that will endure, when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgotten.”

Neil Giaman

“Writing is like a whore. First, I did it for my own pleasure. Then, I did it for the pleasure of my friends. And now, I do it for money.”

Ferenc Molnar

This quote has been attributed to author Virginia Wolf, but acording to Quote Investigator, the original author was French playwright Ferenc Molnar.

“Our greatest weakness is in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

Thomas Edison

Another way of expressing this particular idea:

“Stopping a piece of work just because it’s hard, either emotionally or imaginatively, is a bad idea. Sometimes you have to go on when you don’t feel like it & sometimes you’re doing good work when it feels like all you’re managing to do is shovel shit from the sitting position.”

Stephen King – On Writing

And my personal favorite, which I often use like a motto, was put quite succinctly by the character of Lone Wadi in the movie, The Outlaw Josey Wales:

“Endeavor to persevere.”

Chief Dan George as Lone Wadi in The Outlaw Josey Wales

“Not all those who wander are lost.”

J.R.R. Tolkien – “The Riddle of Strider”

This quote was taken from a poem in The Fellowship of the Ring, so it wasn’t offered up as advice per-se, but I think it is good advice, because isn’t that what we, as authors do? We wander down paths unexplored to see what happens, and how the story comes out. But just because we may not know where we’re going, it doesn’t mean we’re lost. In fact, we usually emerge enlightened, with a killer story to show for it.

“To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself.”

Anne Rice

I find this quote to be spot on. Any type of expression involves a certain amount of risk, and writing is no exception. It’s this open and honest type of writing that is received best. Readers know, they can feel when an author has written from their heart, but to do that, the author must open themselves up and allow themselves to reveal their own vulnerabilities.

“It is a happiness to wonder; it is a happiness to dream.”

Edgar Allen Poe

Every writer should be able to relate to this quote. It’s what we do. We wonder. We dream. And stories emerge.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Author Annonymous

This quote is my all time favorite. It is not the hardships which life throws at us, but how we handle them. I love it. I’ve had quite a bit thrown at me lately. I need to remind myself of what really matters.

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References

(Frances Molnar) Quote Investigator. https://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/01/17/for-pleasure-for-money/

(Thomas Edison & Neil Gaimon) Brainy Quotes. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/neil_gaiman_403389

(Edgar Allen Poe) Goodreads Quotes: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9927514-it-is-a-happiness-to-wonder-it-is-a-happiness-to

(Stephen King) Book Riot: https://bookriot.com/stephen-king-quotes-about-writing/

(Anne Rice) Brainy Quotes: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/anne_rice_383179

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For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

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