I love reading quotes and hearing from authors who have gone through the fire of writing, who have seen the ups and downs that come from storytelling. One of my favorite authors is Neil Gaiman, and he has some incredible insight and wisdom when it comes to writing. Here are five inspirational quotes on writing from Neil, one of the most successful and beloved writers of our time:
"This is how you do it: you sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it's done. It's that easy, and that hard." In other words, don't overthink it. Just start writing, even if it feels like pulling teeth at first. The more you do it, the easier it will become.
"The best advice I can give on this is, once it's done, to put it away until you can read it with new eyes. When you're ready, pick it up and read it, as if you've never read it before. If there are things you aren't satisfied with as a reader, go in and fix them as a writer: that's revision." This is a crucial step in the writing process: revising. Don't be afraid to cut, add, or change anything that doesn't work. And don't rush it either. Take your time to let your work rest and breathe before you come back to it with fresh eyes and a critical mind.
"The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before." This is the payoff of writing: the sense of accomplishment and joy you get from creating something out of nothing. Don't underestimate this feeling. It can be a powerful motivator and a source of inspiration for your next project.
"The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can." This is a reminder that your uniqueness is your strength. Don't try to imitate someone else's style or voice. Embrace your own and let it shine through your writing.
"The process of writing can be magical. The words that come from the fingers are not the same as the words in the head." This is another reminder of the magic of writing. Sometimes, the words flow effortlessly from your fingers, and you surprise yourself with what you come up with. Other times, it feels like a struggle, but even then, you're creating something that didn't exist before. That's something to be proud of.
So there you have it, five inspirational quotes on writing from Neil Gaiman. I hope they help you in your writing journey and give you the encouragement and motivation you need to keep going. Remember, writing is a process, and it takes time, patience, and persistence to get better at it. But with these words of wisdom from a master storyteller, you're off to a great start.
-Andrew
The Indie Author Method
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