Originality is nothing by judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.

Originality is nothing by judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.

I write when I'm inspired, and I see to it that I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning

I write when I'm inspired, and I see to it that I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange and mystify the familiar, is read more

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange and mystify the familiar, is the test of their power.

For a creative writer possession of the "truth" is less important than emotional sincerity.

For a creative writer possession of the "truth" is less important than emotional sincerity.

The true function of a writer is to produce a masterpiece and no other task is of any consequence.

The true function of a writer is to produce a masterpiece and no other task is of any consequence.

Some editors are failed writers, but so are most writers.

Some editors are failed writers, but so are most writers.

Cats are dangerous companions for writers because cat watching is a near-perfect method of writing avoidance

Cats are dangerous companions for writers because cat watching is a near-perfect method of writing avoidance

For your born writer, nothing is so healing as the realization that he has come upon the right word.

For your born writer, nothing is so healing as the realization that he has come upon the right word.

Writers write to influence their readers, their preachers, their auditors, but always, at bottom, to be more themselves.

Writers write to influence their readers, their preachers, their auditors, but always, at bottom, to be more themselves.