Famous Writers 1000 Piece Puzzle 1000 piece puzzle. Famous Writers. William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, Mark Twain, Margaret Atwood, George Orwell and Stephen King are names that will live forever in their writing. This Superior quality puzzle will delight and educate all at the same time. Strong high-quality, easy fit puzzle pieces that won't break. Made from non-toxic recycled board. [Find out more ...]Some of the best writing tips for writers in the 21st century comes from those who have seen their successes and offer advice from their own experience. These authors keep a sense of humour about themselves and remain personable. Here are some lessons to ponder and remember.
• On Inspiration
If you wait for inspiration, you’re not a writer, but a waiter. – Anonymous
For a true writer each book should be a new beginning where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment. He should always try for something that has never been done or that others have tried and failed. – Ernest Hemingway
You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. – Jack London
Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light. – Joseph Pulitzer
The man, the writer, the instrument of the creation will die, but his creation does not die. – Luigi Pirandello
I know writers who write only when inspiration comes. How would Isaac Stern play if he played the violin only when he felt like it? He would be lousy. – Madeleine L’Engle
Whatever inspiration is, it’s born from a continuous “I don’t know.” – Wislawa Szymborska
• On Motivation
If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do things worth writing. – Benjamin Franklin
Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self. – Cyril Connolly
The desire to write grows with writing. – Desiderius Erasmus
If you wish to be a writer, write. – Epictetus
For me, writing is exploration; and most of the time, I’m surprised where the journey takes me. – Jack Dann
• On Writer’s Block
There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. – Ernest Hemingway
If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it an hour when it isn’t expecting it. – H. G. Wells
• On Editing
It is perfectly okay to write garbage — as long as you edit brilliantly. – C. J. Cherryh
Cut out all those exclamation marks. An exclamation mark is like laughing at your own joke. – F. Scott Fitzgerald
My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers: when you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip. – Elmore Leonard
The great art of writing is knowing when to stop. – Josh Billings
As to the adjective, when in doubt, strike it out. – Mark Twain
The most valuable of talents is never using two words when one will do. – Thomas Jefferson
There is but one art, to omit! – Robert Louis Stevenson
When rewriting, move quickly. It’s a little like cutting your own hair. – Robert Stone
A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. – William Strunk, Jr.
• On Humour
The humorous story is told gravely; the teller does his best to conceal the fact that he even dimly suspects that there is anything funny about it. – Mark Twain
• On Naming Your Work
The title to a work of writing is like a house’s front porch…. It should invite you to come on in. – Angela Giles Klocke
A good title should be like a good metaphor. It should intrigue without being too baffling or too obvious. – Walker Percy
• On Humility
Young writers should be encouraged to write, and discouraged from thinking they are writers. – Wallace Stegner
Much of the wisdom from these authors may be surprisingly honest and straightforward. However, a lot can be learned from the success and failure of these writers and the inner struggles authors often face.
