One of my favorite writing quotes comes from E.L. Doctorow: "Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." It sounds to me as if he was a pantser, writing from scene to scene. Of course, you still need to have a set of landmarks that you're looking for, whether you're going somewhere or writing a story that requires a plot structure. Still, to write this way requires a certain confidence that you'll end up where you want to.
Here are some other writing quotes that resonate with me. You can find all of these, and many more, listed on Goodreads.
"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
"Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it."--Lloyd Alexander
"No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader."--Robert Frost
"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you." -- Ray Bradbury
I was tempted to list more, but I'll stop here. Which of these quotes appeal to you? Are there others you like? Feel free to share them in the comments.
6 comments:
The Alexander one is the most profound. People who think fantasy and science fiction are a silly escape don't really understand.
The Morrison one is what prompted me to write my first book though.
I liked the one saying to stay drunk until I saw it meant drunk on writing.
Alex, you can say things in fantasy/science fiction that you might not be able to in mainstream fiction.
Pat, at least the hangover isn't so bad. ;)
Write drunk and edit sober, just don't do it in reverse.
I've always been partial to the Toni Morrison quote.
It's what induced me to start writing.
I like your featured quote.
It makes sense to me: I need to know more or less where I'm heading and I need to know what to look out for on the way, but if I plan more than that then I feel like the writing has all happened and I lose the oomph to sit down and write it.
It's a tricky balance between plotting and pantsing and I suspect it's slightly different for everyone.
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