3 Quotes Tagged: great-writing

In truly good writing no matter how many times you read it you do not know how it is done. That is beacause there is a mystery in all great writing and that mystery does not dis-sect out. It continues and it is always valid. Each time you re-read you see or learn something new.

"I intend to put up with nothing that I can put down."

[Letter to J. Beauchamp Jones, August 8, 1839]

There are books full of great writing that don't have very good stories. Read sometimes for the story... don't be like the book-snobs who won't do that. Read sometimes for the words — the language. Don't be like the play-it-safers who won't do that. But when you find a book that has both a good story and good words, treasure that book.