Al Kennedy
Have humility. Older/more experienced/more convincing writers may offer rules and varieties of advice. Consider what they say. However, don’t automatically give them charge of your brain, or anything else – they might be bitter, twisted, burned-out, manipulative, or just not very like you.
Defend your work. Organizations, institutions and individuals will often think they know best about your work – especially if they are paying you. When you genuinely believe their decisions would damage your work – walk away. Run away. The money doesn’t matter that much.
Anton Chekhov
Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
Rose Tremain
If you’re writing historical fiction, don’t have well-known real characters as your main protagonists. This will only create biographical unease in the readers and send them back to the history books.
Janette Winterson
Take no notice of anyone you don’t respect.
David Hare
The two most depressing words in the English language are “literary fiction”.
Richard Ford
Don’t read your reviews.
Don’t drink and write at the same time.
Don’t write letters to the editor. (No one cares.)
Don’t take any shit if you can possibly help it.
George M. Cohan
In Act I, get your characters up a tree; in Act 2, throw stones at them; in Act 3, get them down.
