3 Quotes Tagged: great-writing

"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.

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.