Friday, August 6, 2010

Issac Bashevis Singer kicks off Writing Quotes

These quotes came from The Creative Screenwriting Weekly Newsletter...

"Originality is not seen in single words or even in sentences. Originality is the sum total of a man's thinking or his writing. "

- Isaac Bashevis Singer

"Writing is a question of finding a certain rhythm. I compare it to the rhythms of jazz. Much of the time life is a sort of rhythmic progression of three characters. If one tells oneself that life is like that, one feels it less arbitrary."

- Francoise Sagan

"The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium."

- Norbet Platt



"Writing, I think, is not apart from living. Writing is a kind of double living. The writer experiences everything twice. Once in reality and once in that mirror which waits always before or behind."

- Catherine Drinker Bowen


And let's finish this up with one from Mark Twain...

You need not expect to get your book right the first time. Go to work and revamp or rewrite it. God only exhibits his thunder and lightning at intervals, and so they always command attention. These are God's adjectives. You thunder and lightning too much; the reader ceases to get under the bed, by and by.

6 comments:

David Barber said...

I like the first one, Cormac, but my favourite is Catherine's. The accompanying photo is awesome. Nice one, mate.

Have a great weekend.

Randal Graves said...

The problem is, those pauses seem to go on for days, if not weeks.

How come no one ever compares the rhythm of writing to black metal?

The World's Fastest Novel!

Laura said...

I like the 4th one best.
My imagination is so vivid that I can almost convince myself that things running through my head (that are indeed fantasy) actually happened.

Now if you'll excuse me... I have a child's bum to wipe. :)
And that ain't no lie. (tres exciting, non?)

((Hugs))
Laura

Cormac Brown said...

David,

I like all of them, but Twain's is the one that I am currently trying to adhere to. Thanks, and you have a good weekend, too.

Randal,

Sometimes you overthink things, and I suggest that you bring your IQ down a bit with a few beers.

"How come no one ever compares the rhythm of writing to black metal?"

Well, first you would have to type like the h*ckers do on TV and in movies, and no one types that fast and writes at the same time. Kerouac did allegedly do "On The Road" on long periods of locking himself up with butcher paper and Benzedrine, though I haven't heard of it working for anyone else, or even Jack for the second time.

Laura,

"My imagination is so vivid that I can almost convince myself that things running through my head (that are indeed fantasy) actually happened."

Then you are ready for Ottawa...or Hollywood.

So you're babysitting the brand new one and reading blogs at the same time? Wow, you really are Super Mom.

Laura said...

Alright smarty pants. It was Massimo's bum that needed wiping. :P
The little one had gone home.
Sheesh! ;p

((Hugs)) *no more titty presses for you!*
Laura

Cormac Brown said...

Laura,

How was I supposed to know?

"*no more titty presses for you!*"

To wit, I reply with this, and then I will do a Wilhem scream as I jump out the window.