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#atozchallenge : Y is for You Don’t Give Up #fiction #writing #quotes

 Theme: Quotes from Authors and Bookish People about Writing

The A to Z Challenge is drawing to a close. How did it go for you? Want to talk about your experience? The Reflections Post linky list will be up and running on May 5th on the A to Z Challenge blog. Write your post talking about your AZ experience this year, and enter your post link on the list. Your feedback will help us improve the next challenge!

Today we talk about perseverance in writers, and here are a few  quotes to inspire you:

“You must write every single day of your life… You must lurk in
libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfumes
and wear books like hats upon your crazy heads… may you be in love
every day for the next 20,000 days. And out of that love, remake a
world.”

Ray Bradbury

“A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.”— Thomas Mann



“It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for
writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by that time I was too
famous.”
— Robert Benchley

“Any
man who keeps working is not a failure. He may not be a great writer,
but if he applies the old-fashioned virtues of hard, constant labor,
he’ll eventually make some kind of career for himself as writer.”
— Ray Bradbury

“Rejection slips, or form letters, however tactfully phrased, are
lacerations of the soul, if not quite inventions of the devil—but there
is no way around them.”
– Isaac Asimov

“About two weeks ago, three weeks ago, I threw away half a novel. Threw
it away. Because I’d made a wrong turn. . . . The amateur, or the
coward, or the non-writer, will try to keep it and make it work ’cause
he doesn’t want to have to throw it away and do all of that over again,
another way. The real artist, with no tear in his eye and no sadness in
his heart, puts the pages in the fire and does it again.”
–Harry Crews


“Writing is work. It’s also gambling. You don’t get a pension plan.
Other people can help you a bit, but ­essentially you’re on your own.
­Nobody is making you do this: you chose it, so don’t whine.”

— Margaret Atwood

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Have you ever wanted to give up? What kept you going?

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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14 Comments

  • Totally Agree.. You must write every single day of your Life.. It is indeed a difference when you dont for one day

  • I only started writing seriously in 2007, I've never wanted to give it up. I started with poetry, moved on to short stories and then novels in conjunction with short stories.
    I started my novel writing in 2010 and had my doubts, but I overcame them by convincing myself that I was a storyteller, so my goal was to keep on telling the stories, but make them sound better. I like to think I've succeeded.

  • Lisa Mandina says:

    The one about writing being harder for writers is one that really made me think. Great quotes! If you have time, and want to, you can check out my Y post.

  • If writing is in your heart, if it is something that defines your life, your soul, if it is something that will be done regardless of all the "terrible" things you perceive are happening in your life, then it will get done. There is no giving up because it is you. To give up writing would be to give up on yourself…and that is not an option.

  • Jemi Fraser says:

    Love these quotes! I think the Mann one was my favourite! 🙂

  • I enjoyed this post.
    Yes, I've had moments of nearly giving up. Only lasts a day or two. How do I get over it? I write. Generally a letter to myself. Sometimes a letter about quitting- my resignation letter.
    http://www.pinterest.com/pin/391109548862482187/

    I'm looking forward to the reflection post hop. 🙂

    Thanks for the date heads up!

    Stopping by from the #atozchallenge !
    @JLenniDorner

  • klahanie says:

    I never give up. The more adversity, the more my peaceful defiance. My son and our beloved dog keep me going. That and those who understand that I interact very discreetly in the blogging background with little fanfare. I like it this way.

    Good luck with your last letter. And then the dreaded reflection posts. Oh my and HELP!

    Gary 🙂

  • I have to second what Mann said, sometimes I have to write the same sentence ten times until I think I've got it right, then the next day I end up trashing it because I was wrong.

  • Shine Kapoor says:

    Nice collection of quotes, I am glad that I am a writer 🙂

  • Benchley's quote is just awesome.

  • cleemckenzie says:

    I'm going with Thomas Mann. So many times I envy people who dash off a letter or an email with all kinds of errors, but could care less! Me? I'm proofing my text messages.

  • Magaret Atwood hit the nail on the head with this very accurate quote. But I never whine as writing is the career I chose with no regrets.

  • Lady Jai says:

    There are so many times I've wanted to give up…on a lot of things, not just writing. What keeps me going? Love, support, encouragement, and my need for positive. Giving up is negative and we don't want that. 🙂

    Jamie Dement (LadyJai)
    My A to Z
    Caring for My Veteran

  • "You chose it, so don't whine." Ha! Indeed! Thank you for the reminder, Margaret Atwood. And I had to chuckle at the Robert Benchley quote 😉

    xx Rachel
    Favorite Book Covers: The Year of Fog vs The Year of the Flood