Janni Simner on the Writer’s Journey

“You’re going to have setbacks, and you’re going to be okay. This isn’t your one big chance. It’s the start of a long and winding (and heartbreaking and glorious) journey.”

~ Janni Simner, Author of the post-apocalyptic Bones of Faerie trilogy and the Iceland-based fantasy Thief Eyes

Source: For new writers (and also for the rest of us), August 6, 2013

Alison Headley on Starting Late

“In terms of being late or not starting at all, then it’s never too late.”

~ Alison Headley, Digital Preservation and Blogs, SXSW 2006

Source: Quotations Page

Schuster on the Distinction between an Editor and a Publisher

“You ask for the distinction between the terms “Editor” and “Publisher”: an editor selects manuscripts; a publisher selects editors.”

~ M. Lincoln Schuster

Source: “Writing.” Ink.

Rex Stout on the Relationship Between Genius and Getting There

“Genius is fine for the ignition spark, but to get there someone has to see that the radiator doesn’t leak and no tire is flat.”

~ Rex Todhunter Stout (December 1, 1886 – October 27, 1975), The Doorbell Rang

Source: GoodReads

Mark Twain on the Necessity of Avoiding People Who Belittle Your Ambitions

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

~ Mark Twain, aka Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910)

Source: Quotes4All: Mark Twain

Madeleine L’Engle on Writing What Wants to be Written

“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”

~ Madeleine L’Engle (November 29, 1918 – September 6, 2007)

Source: About.com: Women’s History: Madeleine L’Engle Quotes

Some Fun Quotes from Science Fiction Writers

Reblogged with permission from: Some fun quotes from science fiction writers by  Fr. Ernesto Obregon

Clarke’s Three Laws

1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

— Arthur C. Clarke

================

Corollary to Clarke’s First Law – When, however, the lay public rallies round an idea that is denounced by distinguished but elderly scientists and supports that idea with great fervor and emotion—the distinguished but elderly scientists are then, after all, probably right.

— Isaac Asimov

================

Corollary to Clarke’s Third Law – Any sufficiently rigorously defined magic is indistinguishable from technology.

— Larry Niven

================

Corollary to Niven’s Law – There is a technical, literary term for those who mistake the opinions and beliefs of characters in a novel for those of the author. The term is “idiot.”

— S. M. Stirling

================

Clarke’s Second Law of Egodynamics – For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert.

— Arthur C. Clarke

================

Finagle’s corollary to Murphy’s Law – Anything that can go wrong, will—at the worst possible moment.

— John W. Campbell, Jr.

================

Hanlon’s Razor – Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

— Robert J. Hanlon

[Note, however, that this law is considered a later development of Ingham’s Maxim — Many journalists have fallen for the conspiracy theory of government. I do assure you that they would produce more accurate work if they adhered to the cock-up theory. —Sir Bernard Ingham]

Isaac Asimov on the Importance of Improvization

“To succeed, planning alone is insufficient. One must improvise as well.”

~ Isaac Asimov, Foundation

Source: Fantasy & Science Fiction Quotations: Isaac Asimov Quotations

C.S. Lewis on Failure and Achievement

“Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement.”

~ C. S. Lewis

Source: The Quotations Page: C. S. Lewis

Lillian Helman on Writers’ Hopes

“Nothing you write, if you hope to be any good, will ever come out as you first hoped.”

~ Lillian Helman

Source: “Writing” Ink