Email: How can I improve my writing skills, tired. Have a blog? (US)
Here’s a reading list of famous advice on writing, featuring words of wisdom from masters, titans of literature.
- Ursula K. Le Guin On Art, Storytelling, Power Of Language To Transform
Function of art is to give people words to know their own experiences. Story-telling is a tool for knowing who we are, what we want. - Rachel Carson On Writing, Loneliness Of Creative Work
If we write what selves sincerely think, feel, interested in, we’ll interest others. - Jeanette Winterson’s 10 Tips On Writing
Discipline allows creative freedom. No discipline equals no freedom. - Jennifer Egan On Writing, Trap Of Approval, Most Important Discipline For Aspiring Writers
We can only write regularly if we’re willing to write badly. Accept bad writing as a way of priming the pump, a warm-up exercise that allows us to write well. - T.S. Eliot On Writing: Warm, Wry Letter To 16 Year Old Aspiring Girl
Don’t write at first for anyone but ourselves. - Anton Chekhov’s 6 Rules for a Great Story
Mastering essential complementarity of compassion, total objectivity. - The Effortless Effort of Creativity: Jane Hirshfield On Storytelling, Art Of Concentration, Difficulty As A Consecrating Force Of Creative Attention
In whole-heartedness of concentration, the world, self begin to cohere. An enlarging of what may be known, may be felt, may be done. - Ted Hughes On How to Be A Writer: Letter of Advice To 18-Year Old Daughter
1st signs of disintegration is when writing loses unique stamp of character, loses inner light. - Stephen King: Writing, Art of Creative Sleep
In writing, sleeping we learn to be physically still, encouraging ideas - Annie Dillard on Writing
Sensation of writing is unmerited grace. Handed to us only if we look for it. We search, break our hearts, our brains, only then it’s handed over. - Elmore Leonard’s 10 Rules of Writing
If it sounds like writing, re-write it. - Isabel Allende: Writing Brings Order To Chaos Of Life
Show up, show up, show up after a while the muse shows up too!
Enjoy reading, writing as a constant practice…