Writing Tips from Famous Authors

Sometimes, you need a famous face to say something profound in order to get you feeling inspired to write, and where better to look for advice than some of the world’s most successful authors. Here are some of my favourite quotes about writing from famous authors to get you motivated - whether you need to write an essay, a blog or a novel!

"Never use a long word where a short one will do."

- George Orwell

(Author of 1984)

“Let your interests drive your writing.”

- J.RR. Tolkien

(Author of The Lord of the Rings)

“If you’re using dialogue, say it aloud as you write it. Only then will it have the sound of speech.”
- John Steinbeck

(Author of Of Mice and Men)

“Work on a computer that is disconnected from the internet.”

- Zadie Smith

(Author of White Teeth)

“The shorter and the plainer the better.”

— Beatrix Potter

(Author of Peter Rabbit)

“Use the smallest word that does the job.”

- E.B. White

(Author of Charlotte’s Web)

“When you’re stuck, and sure you’ve written absolute garbage, force yourself to finish and then decide to fix or scrap it - or you will never know if you can.”

- Jodi Picoult

(Author of My Sister’s Keeper)

“‘Google’ is not a synonym for ‘research.’”

- Dan Brown

(Author of The Da Vinci Code)

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time — or the tools — to write. Simple as that.”

- Stephen King

(Author of The Shining)

“Never use abstract nouns when concrete ones will do. If you mean ‘More people died’, don’t say ‘Mortality rose’.”

- C.S. Lewis

(Author of The Chronicles of Narnia)

“What you write becomes who you are… So make sure you love what you write!”

- J.K. Rowling

(Author of Harry Potter)

"Writing is its own reward."

- Henry Miller

(Author of Tropic of Cancer)