The Quotable Writer: Words of Wisdom from Mark Twain, Aristotle, Oscar Wilde, Robert Frost, Eric Jong, and More

Rare is the writer who does not have a quotation tacked up above his or her desk. Sometimes it is inspiration that a writer seeks, sometimes cajoling. At times, one needs a bit of humor; at other times, advice. "Writing is the worst part of being a writer," quips James Atlas. "We have the power to bore people long after we are dead," muses Sinclair Lewis. "Don't try to save junk just because it took you a long time to write it," warns David Eddings.

These snippets, culled from other writers' experience, provide company for the solitary scribe. Yes, you are alone, they seem to say, but, no, you are not really alone. Well, William A. Gordon's office must hum like a cocktail party. I mean, the guy must buy thumbtacks by the case. Gathered here are the 1,000 most "memorable, thought-provoking, humorous, and/or important quotations from Gordon's collection, arranged into more than 50 categories, including "critics," "humor," "inspiration," and "self-publishing." The Quotable Writer is sure to provide hours of entertainment. That is, unless you choose to heed Lillian Hellman, quoted by Gordon: "If I had to give young writers advice," she told The New York Times in 1960, "I'd say, don't listen to writers talking about writing." --Jane Steinberg