“I started writing because of a terrible feeling of powerlessness," the novelist Anita Brookner has said. The National Book Award winner Alice McDermott noted that the most difficult thing about becoming a writer was convincing herself that she had anything to say that people would want to read. "There's nothing to writing," the columnist Red Smith once commented. "All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.”
Quotes about Writing
"I started writing because of a terrible feeling of powerlessness," the novelist Anita Brookner has said. The National Book Award winner Alice McDermott noted that the most difficult thing about becoming a writer was convincing herself that she had anything to say that people would want to read. "There's nothing to writing," the columnist Red Smith once commented. "All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.” - Wally Lamb".
Quote Analysis
In this quote, Wally Lamb provides insight into the motivations and struggles of various writers. Anita Brookner reveals that she began writing as a way to combat her feelings of powerlessness. Alice McDermott admits to grappling with self-doubt about the value of her own words. The columnist Red Smith, on the other hand, emphasizes the emotional and vulnerable aspect of writing, likening it to opening up a vein. These quotes shed light on the complex and often personal reasons behind why individuals choose to become writers, highlighting the deep-seated emotions and doubts that accompany the creative process.
The Power of Writing
Many writers have expressed feelings of powerlessness before turning to writing as a way to express themselves and find a sense of purpose. Despite the doubts and struggles faced by writers, the act of writing can be a cathartic and empowering experience. As Anita Brookner, Alice McDermott, and Red Smith have all noted in their own ways, writing can be a way to open up and share one's innermost thoughts and feelings with others. In our modern world, where people are constantly seeking connection and understanding, the power of writing remains as relevant as ever. Whether it's through novels, columns, or personal essays, the act of writing continues to be a powerful tool for self-expression and communication.
Reflection Questions:
As you reflect on the different perspectives on writing from Anita Brookner, Alice McDermott, and Red Smith, consider the following questions:
How has the feeling of powerlessness or doubt played a role in your own writing journey? Have you experienced moments of self-doubt or feelings of inadequacy as a writer?
Do you agree with Red Smith's notion that writing requires opening a vein, or do you have a different perspective on what writing entails? How do you personally approach the act of writing?
In what ways do you think the challenges and difficulties discussed by these writers can be overcome or navigated in your own writing practice? How can you channel feelings of powerlessness or doubt into creative energy and motivation?
Reflect on your own motivations for writing. What drives you to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard? How do you find inspiration and confidence in your writing voice and message?
Similar quotes
“There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.”
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
“Lately, because computer technology has made self-publishing an easier and less expensive venture, I'm getting a lot of review copies of amateur books by writers who would be better advised to hone their craft before committing it to print. The best thing you can do as a beginning writer is to write, write, write - and read, read, read. Concentrating on publication prematurely is a mistake. You don't pick up a violin and expect to play Carnegie Hall within the year - yet somehow people forget that writing also requires technical skills that need to be learned, practiced, honed. If I had a dollar for every person I've met who thought, with no prior experience, they could sit down and write a novel and instantly win awards and make their living as a writer, I'd be a rich woman today. It's unrealistic, and it's also mildly insulting to professional writers who have worked hard to perfect their craft. Of course, then you hear stories about people like J.K. Rowling, who did sit down with no prior experience and write a worldwide best-seller...but such people are as rare as hen's teeth. Every day I work with talented, accomplished writers who have many novels in print and awards to their name and who are ‘still’ struggling to make a living. The thing I often find myself wanting to say to new writers is: Write because you love writing, learn your craft, be patient, and be realistic. Anais Nin said about writing, "It should be a necessity, as the sea needs to heave, and I call it breathing."”
“You have made some notes, read some writing books, and done some research. Mostly what you've done is talk about writing a book. An idea for a book is not a book; it is a waste of time. There is no singular thing that makes someone a writer, but there is one thing that makes someone a joke--talking about writing a book without doing any work.”
“If only you’d remember before ever you sit down to write that you’ve been a reader long before you were ever a writer. You simply fix that fact in your mind, then sit very still and ask yourself, as a reader, what piece of writing in all the world Buddy Glass would most want to read if he had his heart’s choice. The next step is terrible, but so simple I can hardly believe it as I write it. You just sit down shamelessly and write the thing yourself. I won’t even underline that. It’s too important to be underlined.”