Quotes From Most Notable Book Writers
Posted by
Ann Yager on Thu, Sep 08, 2011 @ 07:55 AM
We write them in notes to loved ones. We boldly place them on the walls of our homes. We use them in conversation to prove a point or to demonstrate our worldly wealth of knowledge. What are they? Words of wisdom bestowed upon us by the greats.
Whether you're making dinner, book writing, or training for a marathon, remember the advice given by some of the most quotable literary figures to ever lay a pen on a piece of paper.
Author Lesson 1: Don't be ignorant.
"A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read."
- Mark Twain
No matter what they say, ignorance is almost never bliss. Take every opportunity you can to learn.
Author Lesson 2: Stay focused.
"I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time."
- Charles Dickens
In his book writing career, Charles Dickens created close to 1,000 named characters. He also renovated his house to isolate himself from any distraction that could lead to writers block.
He made sure he could focus. So set goals. Exceed them. Find a system that works and execute it to the fullest of your abilities.
Author Lesson 3: Be persistent.
"I didn't fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong."
- Benjamin Franklin
No one but you has the authority to label you as a failure. Learning what not to do is equally as important as learning what to do. If you try and you fail, well you're already miles ahead of the guy who didn't even enter the race.
Author Lesson 4: Grow.
"Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing or that but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing."
- WB Yeats
Challenge yourself. Every step you take is progress. Progress is results. Results are satisfaction.
Author Lesson 5: Prove them wrong.
"However my parents - both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college, took the view that my overactive imagination was an amusing quirk that would never pay a mortgage or secure a pension."
- JK Rowling
Recognize your unique talents. Use them in the most effective and enjoyable manner. Stand behind your work. If you must throw practicality out the window, do it with confidence. No one can argue success.
Takeaway
Learn from the best! Please leave a comment to let us know which of these quotes you liked and why.
Book authors are often surprised to learn that their editors and publishers expect more than just a great book. Publishers often ask authors to create an index or find a book indexer. If you've never created an index before, it can really be time consuming.
The key to success is not only the book writing process itself, but paying attention to the index as well.
Image Credit: ell brown
(Statue of Dr Samuel Johnson who was famous for writing the first English Dictionary.)