ELIZABETH WRENN
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SOME FAVORITE QUOTES ON WRITING These are from two of my favorite books for writers: The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White, and, If You Want to Write, by Brenda Ueland.
"When he delivered his oration on brevity to the class, he (William Strunk) leaned forward over his desk, grasped his coat lapels in his hands, and, in a husky, conspiratorial voice, said, "Rule Thirteen. Omit needless words! Omit needless words! Omit needless words!" --E.B.White, The Elements of Style. "But the moment I read Van Gogh's letter I knew what art was, and the creative impulse. It is a feeling of love* and enthusiasm for something, and in a direct, simple, passionate and true way, you try to show this beauty in things to others. . ." "*Or it can be a feeling of hate and abhorrence too. Though the work of the men who have worked from love seems to be greater than those who have worked from hate." --Brenda Ueland, If You Want To Write And the following, also from Ms. Ueland, cracks me up! Probably because it feels very familiar to me!: "It is hard to be carefree when you have many anxieties. But the more you have, the more necessary it is to feel carefree for a time, so that you will get some new ideas on how to deal with your anxieties." -Brenda Ueland, If You Want To Write ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "I am always at a loss to know how much to believe of my own stories." --Washington Irving, Tales of a Traveller ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |
Fall 2007 Newsletter
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