122 Writing Advice Quotes From Famous Authors (Inspiration and Motivation for Writers)

13 min readSep 28, 2024

There’s a ton of quotes from famous writers about writing, but this one is different. First, that’s because it’s not just a recycled list of random stuff. These are quotes I’ve researched, that have helped me write and publish better books.

More importantly, there’s a secret trick at the end to help with your book marketing and promotion, to help get more sales and visibility for your own projects.

We’ll start with 50 quotes about writing from famous authors:

Famous Quotes About Writing

“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” — Jodi Picoult
“The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.” — Terry Pratchett
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” — Maya Angelou
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” — Toni Morrison
“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” — Louis L’Amour
“You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald
“I write to discover what I know.” — Flannery O’Connor
“The road to hell is paved with adverbs.” — Stephen King
“Easy reading is damn hard writing.” — Nathaniel Hawthorne
“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” — Stephen King
“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” — W. Somerset Maugham
“Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.” — E. L. Doctorow
“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” — Anton Chekhov
“A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” — Thomas Mann
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” — Ernest Hemingway
“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” — Ray Bradbury
“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter — it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” — Mark Twain
“One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.” — Jack Kerouac
“The best time for planning a book is while you’re doing the dishes.” — Agatha Christie
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” — Ernest Hemingway
“All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald
“The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” — Thomas Jefferson
“Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald
“I hate writing, I love having written.” — Dorothy Parker
“You can make anything by writing.” — C.S. Lewis
“Write drunk, edit sober.” — Ernest Hemingway (attributed but debated)
“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.” — Mark Twain
“You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences and the creation of different words on a page.” — Annie Proulx
“The true alchemists do not change lead into gold; they change the world into words.” — William H. Gass
“Write what should not be forgotten.” — Isabel Allende
“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” — Anne Frank
“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” — Robert Frost
“There are no laws for the novel. There never have been, nor can there ever be.” — Doris Lessing
“You fail only if you stop writing.” — Ray Bradbury
“A word after a word after a word is power.” — Margaret Atwood
“What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.” — Samuel Johnson
“I write for the same reason I breathe — because if I didn’t, I would die.” — Isaac Asimov
“A writer is a world trapped in a person.” — Victor Hugo
“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” — Franz Kafka
“Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.” — Gloria Steinem
“I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose.” — Stephen King
“Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.” — Barbara Kingsolver
“The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true.” — John Steinbeck
“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of 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.” — George Orwell
“I’m writing a book. I’ve got the page numbers done.” — Steven Wright
“Half my life is an act of revision.” — John Irving
“Good fiction’s job is to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” — David Foster Wallace
“The greatest part of a writer’s time is spent in reading, in order to write. A man will turn over half a library to make one book.” — Samuel Johnson
“To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.” — Herman Melville
“The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” — Albert Camus

Those are fun, but they aren’t exactly HELPFUL, so let’s dig deeper. Here are some more writing tips and insights I’ve picked up through my endless quest to become a better writer:

More Writing Quotes for Inspiration

Here are 55 more quotes about writing. These all came from my own book about writing, I tried to pick out a few that sound cool but they may not make sense without the full context. In my book, I’m basically saying magic is the fun part, but craft is the practical stuff you can actually improve and get better at. Magic is intuitive and can’t be taught, but a LOT of writing is actually nuts and bolts, skill and ability, and that absolutely can be learned.

“Art is the passion of creation. Craft is the mastery of technique.”
“Magic isn’t what’s performed or how. It’s what happens when the viewer’s imagination engages with the material being presented.”
“Art controls you. Craft is a tool you wield.”
“Creativity is already a kind of sorcery; bringing something into existence out of nothing.”
“Deep magic isn’t a spontaneous explosion of creative energy. Real power comes from deliberation, skill, and craft.”
“The muse comes to those who are prepared and willing; magic needs focus, ability, and attention.”
“A good novel is generally about a single episode that has a major emotional impact on a character’s life, who is presented with an impossible moral choice.”
“It’s not the passion-fueled torrent of words that make a book, but the calculated mastery of technique and ability.”
“You don’t create a better story by avoiding tropes. You create a non-genred story that appeals to nobody.”
“Books that succeed almost without fail are those that have become popular, whether or not they were expected to.”
Art is about self-expression, while craft is about technical mastery.
Magic in writing happens when preparation meets inspiration.
A compelling novel focuses on a character’s impossible problem that forces them to grow.
Don’t avoid genre conventions; instead, transcend them by adding originality.
A book is rarely all great — greatness is supported by good enough, and that’s okay.
Creating a powerful story involves understanding both the art and the craft of writing.
The real magic of writing is how it changes you as a creator.
“The best writing is art that flows; the skill and craft contain it into an enjoyable novel.”
“A story that matters challenges your protagonist so deeply it threatens their very identity.”
“The craft of writing can be learned, practiced, and perfected — magic will follow.”
“Real magic and just a trick aren’t so different; both require preparation and practice.”
“The true power in writing comes from deliberate practice, not just spontaneous inspiration.”
“Your story is not about your character — it’s about your character’s problem.”
“Creativity is sorcery; writing requires both art and the disciplined practice of craft.”
“Your greatest weapon as a writer is the ability to channel raw emotion into structured form.”
“Great writing shares identifiable patterns you can learn to implement.”
“Even the most powerful magic needs a container — the craft to hold it together.”
“Great writing happens when you channel unstructured creativity into disciplined craft.”
“Magic in storytelling is born from a combination of spontaneous inspiration and learned skill.”
“A compelling story puts characters in situations that force them to change or confront their deepest fears.”
“Craft is the tool that turns raw inspiration into a story that captivates readers.”
“Writing is both an art and a science — the muse is drawn to those who are prepared.”
“Mastery in writing means knowing when to follow and when to transcend genre conventions.”
“A well-crafted story weaves together powerful emotion with precise technique.”
“The real magic of storytelling lies in the balance between spontaneous creativity and deliberate craft.”
“Craft is the study of essentials. It’s the foundation you lay before igniting your unique magic with the heat of your pen.”
“Writing isn’t about sitting around waiting for the muse. It’s about showing up every day and doing the work until the magic shows up.”
“To spell was to create invisible meaning through learned rearrangement of inscrutable symbols.”
“Great writing shares identifiable patterns that you can learn to implement without stumbling through the dark.”
“You can’t force readers to love your book. The work must stand on its own.”
“Choose joy. Aim for value. Practice your craft.”
“An artist is never satisfied with the details, but a craftsman makes it work and keeps getting better.”
“The best magic shows up when you’re prepared enough to handle and contain it.”
“The real magic of writing is how it changes you.”
“You are the magician. I’m simply holding up the mirror to show you the reflection of the person you already are.”
“Craft is the tool that turns inspiration into a book.”
“Mastery in writing means balancing creativity with disciplined practice.”
“Real power in writing comes from combining skill with deliberate practice.”
“Writing is an initiation — into the craft, into discipline, into your own magic.”
“Great writing is a balance of art and craft, passion and technique.”
“The path to becoming a successful writer involves continuous learning and adapting.”
“The muse may be magical, but the real magic is in doing the work.”
“Your story’s magic happens when your words touch the reader’s imagination.”
“Don’t rely on inspiration alone; prepare, practice, and the magic will follow.”
“Writing is a journey of self-discovery as much as it is about crafting a story.”

I turned my whole book into an audiobook so you can listen for free:

Practical Writing Tips (quotes about self-doubt the writing process and the importance of story)

The problem with writing quotes is they are so short they don’t really mean anything, so here are some longer excerpts and passages!

“The narrative comes first — the structure, the purpose, the point. The magic isn’t in the showmanship; it’s the work’s ability to affect a particular audience. Beautiful words aren’t all that important and it doesn’t matter where you put the commas. Even if you choose the prettiest words, it won’t hold up without a good story.”
This passage emphasizes the importance of substance over style in writing. The focus should be on crafting a compelling narrative rather than getting lost in flowery language.
“Writing is a learnable skill! You don’t really understand what it takes to write a book until you’ve finished one, and even then you’re just a beginner. Be proud of yourself but recognize you may need a professional editor and also to finish several more books before you start producing high-quality work.”
This passage is an encouraging reminder that writing is a craft that can be improved over time. It highlights the importance of persistence and continuous learning.
“Don’t get discouraged that the writing may not be that great yet. Those sentences don’t start to shine until the last few rounds of editing. Stick with the story, use the words that convey the right images and emotions, but don’t overdo it.”
This passage reassures writers that the refinement of their work comes with revision and encourages them to focus on the overall story rather than getting bogged down by perfecting each sentence in the early stages.
“You don’t make something hurt by using more words. You use the right words. Sometimes authors attempt to explain why and how much something hurts with a lot of description. Stay in the scene and focus on the details and feelings of this critical moment — not the thoughts it sparks.”
This advice encourages writers to prioritize precision and emotional impact over verbosity, emphasizing the importance of economy in language for powerful storytelling.
“Finish the work. As you prepare to do the work, create a ritual, a routine, and transform your workspace into an altar: this will boost your productivity and create an unstoppable writing habit. The only real key to productivity is consistency. Make a promise to yourself that you will show up even if it’s just twenty minutes a day.”
This passage provides practical advice on establishing a disciplined writing practice, highlighting the importance of consistency and creating a conducive environment for creativity.
“Your first draft is not about good writing, and trying to write your first draft well will probably sabotage the process and ultimately lead to a weaker book. The solution is to write it quickly, roughly, focusing on the story — figuring out what happens. All the gaps, plot holes, and motivations, we’ll fix later.”
This passage encourages writers to focus on completing their first draft without getting bogged down by perfectionism, reassuring them that refinement can come in later revisions.
“Craft is the study of essentials. It’s the foundation you lay before igniting your unique magic with the heat of your pen. Writing isn’t about sitting around waiting for the muse. It’s about showing up every day and doing the work until the magic shows up. To spell was to create invisible meaning through learned rearrangement of inscrutable symbols. Great writing shares identifiable patterns that you can learn to implement without stumbling through the dark.”
“Write the rough draft quickly. Don’t edit, don’t improve the writing, don’t focus on the sentences. Just block in the conversation, setting, and action in big chunks. If you get stuck, make a note and move on. Focus on hitting a certain word count or getting through a scene a day. Then start revising in earnest. Don’t get discouraged that the writing may not be that great yet. Those sentences don’t start to shine until the last few rounds of editing.”
“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff and then gradually get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.”
“Beautiful words aren’t all that important, and it doesn’t matter where you put the commas. Even if you choose the prettiest words, it won’t hold up without a good story. The narrative comes first — the structure, the purpose, the point. The magic isn’t in the showmanship; it’s the work’s ability to affect a particular audience.”

Writing Quotes about Discipline, Creativity, First Drafts and Writer’s Block

“Your first draft is not about good writing, and trying to write your first draft well will probably sabotage the process and ultimately lead to a weaker book. The solution is to write it quickly, roughly, focusing on the story — figuring out what happens. All the gaps, plot holes, and motivations, we’ll fix later.”
“Masterful writing is about keeping secrets. The unfolding of unresolved conflict. To make your story matter, increase the difficulty. What hurts most goes last. What do the characters need or want? What’s stopping them? Solutions and answers must come at a cost.”
“The first draft is nothing more than a starting point so be wrong as fast as you can. The point of the first draft is just to get started; not to write a great book or even to write a good book. Cast out the earthworm excrement and spew words on your blank page. Fill your meadow with manure in order to create fertile ground.”
“Writing can also be a practice: the calculated mastery of technique and ability. The intentional cultivation of sustainable reliable bouts of creative genius in order to get more of your best words on the page with less of the fears doubts or indecision most writers face. This book aims to resurrect the ancient truth that the muse comes to those who are prepared and willing; that magic needs focus ability and attention; and that all true magic requires work and sacrifice.”
“Writing a book is just about the hardest thing a human brain can do. You have to juggle massive amounts of information and it’s exhausting. The brain is a muscle and the more energy it consumes the more downtime it’s going to need to charge back up. Don’t feel guilty about not always doing the work because a lot of the time the rest and procrastination are actually a necessary part of the process.”
“Art is about self-expression. Craft is about technical mastery. Art controls you. Craft is a tool you wield. Art is a gift. Craft is a power. Art is the why. Craft is the how.”
“Writing is a practice: the calculated mastery of technique and ability. The intentional cultivation of sustainable reliable bouts of creative genius in order to get more of your best words on the page with less of the fears doubts or indecision most writers face. This book aims to resurrect the ancient truth that the muse comes to those who are prepared and willing; that magic needs focus ability and attention; and that all true magic requires work and sacrifice.”

How to improve your writing

If you’re serious about getting better and publishing books readers love, you should probably read some of the best books on writing.

I actually spent a decade doing that and getting a PhD in Literature, so I went ahead and made a list with some of the best tips and writing advice from each book.

25 best books on writing books for authors that want to master their craft.