Writs on Writing - Gert Scholtz - South Africa

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago · 3 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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Writs on Writing

Occasionally I come across an observation or a quote on writing which is just too entertaining or too true to leave just there. I collate these and call it Writs on Writing. Some are from known authors, some from Bees. Some are wise, some are humorous, many are both. Enjoy this, I hope it adds fun and insight to your writing on beBee.

Hard writing makes easy reading. Easy writing makes hard reading. - William Zinsser

I have started my novel. I have the pages numbered. – Anon

I love being a writer. What I can’t stand is the paperwork. – Peter de Vries

Long, hard slog today writing the Great American Tweet. (That was it...what do you think? Pulitzer?) - Greg Tamblyn

The freelance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.—Robert Benchley

I wrote a few children's books. Not on purpose. - Steven Wright

Scribble with sloth and pen with procrastination. - Paul Walters (Paul, I just had to make this one up)

An autobiography usually reveals nothing bad about its writer except his memory. - Franklin Jones

Writing is both mask and unveiling. - E B White

You’re not writing to show how much you know. You’re writing to interest your audience. They don’t care about your opinions as much as they care about your insights. - Robert Cormack

When Thoreau wrote: "Simplify, simplify, simplify!" shouldn't he have edited it down to "Simplify!"? - Anon.

Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling crocodiles. – Olin Miller.

There are thousands of thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up the pen and writes. -William Thackeray

It ain’t whatcha write, it’s the way atcha write it. -Jack Kerouac

For me the sorting matrix of readable pieces is as follows: 1) a mediocre theme expressed eloquently, 2) a stunning theme expressed in mediocre fashion, and 3) a stunning theme expressed eloquently. The only writing that is not worth reading is 4) a mediocre theme expressed in mediocre fashion. - Phil Friedman

The first sentence can’t be written until the final sentence is written. - Joyce Carol Oates

It’s one thing to write the way you talk, it’s another to have something worth talking about. - Robert Cormack

The universe is made of stories, not of atoms. — Muriel Rukeyser

The passion requires movements or at least a hint of hope. The moment when we all become silent is at the same time the "final moment". - Milos Djukic

Never let a bad memory get in the way of a good memoir. - Joanie Levenson

Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good. - Dr Samuel Johnson, to an aspiring writer.

There is only one plot; things are not what they seem. - Jim Thompson

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

It’s also fun. I genuinely enjoy doing this. Because writers write. - Jim Murray

The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is that you really want to say. - Mark Twain

I don’t like to write, but I like to have written. – Michael Kanin

I write when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I am inspired at nine o’clock every morning. – Peter de Vries

Grammar are important, and korect spelling even more importanter. - Anon.

I write to find out what I’m talking about. – Edward Albee

If you can’t annoy somebody, there’s little point in writing. - Kingsley Amis

Whether content stimulates depends on whether or not it has substance, that is, whether it embodies some measure of meaning, interest, amusement, or other intrinsic value. - Phil Friedman

What I want to do is make people laugh so they see things seriously. – William Zinsser

Stop counting words. Make your words count. – Robert Cormack.

Writing is the art of translating/deciphering/simplifying your vast “reservoir” to that simple blank sheet of paper”. - Randall Burns

Writers are those guys and gals that make a living rattling a keyboard. – Todd Jones

There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. – W. Somerset Maugham

Readers become engaged when they can see themselves in the story you are telling. - Steve Harrison

I try to leave out the parts readers skip. – Elmore Leonard

Stories shape both those who tell them and those who are themselves shaped by the storytellers. - Javier beBee

A good novel tells us the truth about its hero, but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author. – Gilbert K. Chesterton.

Most writers regard the truth as their most valuable possession, and therefore are economical in its use. – Mark Twain

If you want people to read a book, tell them it is overrated. – Nassim Taleb

Sometimes ideas are created as you write them; sometimes ideas fade as you think them. - Me

The final writ on writing is from Jim Murray, expressed as only he can:

The purpose of writing is to communicate. To get ideas into other people's heads. To stimulate their thinking. Phil Friedman actually does this better than I do, but that's really the game here. It's not about ego gratification or anything close to that. Because, speaking for myself, I would write even if it was just for the gestalt of doing it. Writers don't really intellectualize what they are doing. They are simply following a compulsion where it leads. They are trying to influence thinking but it's not like this is some conscious effort. Because at the end of the day, it's really just self-expression. The same way as an artist paints to express himself or a film make makes a film to express himself (or her) self. If somebody reads it and gets something out of it, well that's the icing on the cake.

May you have the best of your writing here on beBee.

(Image of E B White)

#Phil Friedman #Peter de Vries #Robert Cormack #William Zinsser #White

Comments

Javier Cámara-Rica 🐝🇪🇸

6 years ago #51

Sharing again

Randall Burns

6 years ago #50

#58
HaHa! Thanks for the "plug" Gert Scholtz

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #49

After two excellent posts this week on writing by Robert Cormack, I thought I would share this post again - now with some additions. Both Robert and Randall are quoted in these Writs on Writing.

Lisa Gallagher

6 years ago #48

#56
My pleasure Gert Scholtz, "You're a good man, Gert!" Dean tells me I'm wrong about him, please don't spoil my vision of you now! LOL

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #47

#51
Lisa \ud83d\udc1d Gallagher Your lines are classic Robert - thank you for reading.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #46

Randall Burns Many thanks for stopping by these Writs. Glad you enjoyed it!

Robert Cormack

6 years ago #45

Good lines here, Gert Scholtz. Thanks for the inclusion.

Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee

6 years ago #44

I almost had to stop reading because I was laughing so hard at some of the quotes. So much rang true. Thanks for this excellent read.

Randall Burns

6 years ago #43

HaHa! These are great Gert Scholtz

Lisa Gallagher

6 years ago #42

So many great quotes Gert Scholtz! Thanks for these :)

Paul Walters

6 years ago #41

#14
Hardly an amateur Dean Owen !!!!!

Paul Walters

6 years ago #40

Gert Scholtz I was going to write something witty but sloth got in the way. Thanks for including my in a gallery of fine writers . Must off , procrastination calls.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #39

#40
John White, MBA Thank you for your kind words John. I look forward to read about the idea you came up with.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #38

Lisa Vanderburg Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting and reading.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #37

#42
Javier \ud83d\udc1d beBee Thank you for your generous words Javier !

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #36

#38
Ali Anani, Brand Ambassador @beBee In my post The Write Stuff to the best of my ability I commented on writers' styles. Thank you for your engagement on this post Ali!

Javier Cámara-Rica 🐝🇪🇸

6 years ago #35

#38
Ali Anani, Brand Ambassador @beBee beBee is about people. People do business with people. beBee is about being personal, being professional. Best connections and succesful relationships are between humans. I love beBee because our community is our best asset.

Jerry Fletcher

6 years ago #34

Gert, What a delightful romp!

John White, MBA

6 years ago #33

Gert Scholtz: this is a brilliant post and it's given me a grand idea. Thank you!

Lisa Vanderburg

6 years ago #32

Deliciously pithy Gert Scholtz - LMAO at some of them :) I think I've licked the pencil end one too many times to get it in writing!

Ali Anani

6 years ago #31

#36
Dear Gert Scholtz- in fact I have just did a quick study and the results are ready. I need little time to write the buzz. What astonishes me is finding from the comments you selected that they reflect somehow on my general impression about commenters with whom I had lots of comments exchanges. For example, the analysis from the comment of Javier \ud83d\udc1d beBee says he is both an intellectual and spiritual. I don't know if it is wise to comments on peoples' styles and that is the hesitation I have to write the buzz.

Pascal Derrien

6 years ago #30

You gave them those stand alone comments the power to become universal quotes and for that we thank you Gert Scholtz :-)

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #29

#24
Ali Anani, Brand Ambassador @beBee I would love to read a study of yours on these or other quotes! Thank you Ali. It means a lot to me that you read and share the post.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #28

#27
VDS Brink Thank you for the great quote VDS. Deur te skryf vind ons mekaar en vind ons onsself!

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #27

#26
Sara Jacobovici A share and comment from you is as high a commendation as I can wish for. Thank you very much Sara!

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #26

#28
debasish majumder I appreciate your comments Debasish - thank you.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #25

#23
Milos Djukic Thank you my most respected fractal bee for sharing!

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #24

#22
Thank you for your considered comment David. The many are becoming a swarm and the buzz keeps growing -thanks to you.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #23

#21
Vincent Andrew, to name a few. Thanks Vincent.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #22

#20
Jim Murray Don't I know that feeling - reading your own work after it is published and finding typos. Thank you for stopping by to comment -much appreciated Jim.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #21

Great buzz Gert Scholtz. Thank you for putting this all together and inspiring the discussion. I would like to plug the hive, "Why I write...." https://www.bebee.com/group/why-i-write. There are a number of inspiring posts there. I am sharing this one now.

Ali Anani

6 years ago #20

#23
My comments testify that I am on the same boat

Ali Anani

6 years ago #19

Well, this buzz is the icing on the cake Gert Scholtz. Right from you witty title "Writs on Writing" through ALL the selected quotes they are inspiring, amusing and terrifically selected. I believe one can do a study on them and why they are so absorbing comments. If I find the time I might be doing it myself. Fantastic read and is definitely worthy of sharing.

Milos Djukic

6 years ago #18

#20
I am, however, an expert for mistakes :)

David B. Grinberg

6 years ago #17

What a great read, Gert, with so many interesting, wise and truthful takes on writing. I commend those writers you mentioned, whom I admire, learn from and find inspirational: Jim Murray. There are many more wonderful writers here on beBee, too many to count. All bees deserve accolades for expressing themselves on the Producer publishing platform. The buzz continues to grow louder every day, week and month, with more new writers joining our growing community of blogging buzz. Kudos to them all!

Jim Murray

6 years ago #16

Wow...thanks again. Gert. As usual I found a typo in my own freaking quote. You can also add to that "Writers are their own worst enemies when it comes to proofreading."

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #15

Dean Owen Well, this post borrows from tried and true phrases! Thank you Dean, always good to read your comments to my posts.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #14

Todd Jones Tausif - I always listen intently to what you say. Thanks Toddf or your classic quote. Yogesh - you say it perfectly: "for writer's on bebee from writers on bebee". Thank you all very much.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #13

Thank you Ren\u00e9e \ud83d\udc1d Cormier for the comments and shares. Good to have you all stopping by and not putting "Da Horse before Descartes"!

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #12

#10
Don \ud83d\udc1d Kerr Many thanks for the line from Muriel Rukeyser - now added to the list!

Dean Owen

6 years ago #11

I think what separates real (and published) writers like Messrs Robert Cormack and the rest of us amateur writers is that us amateurs always find a constant need to borrow tried and true everyday phrases.

don kerr

6 years ago #10

Gert Scholtz shouldn't you be sleeping?

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #9

#8
Yeah, Todd, well too much writing and not enough editing makes Jack a mush-brain. Although all o you are too polite to point it out, the quip below should read "that might be to put Descartes before da horse..." Cheers!

don kerr

6 years ago #8

#6
Can always count on Phil Friedman for a bit of a groaner - although he does make me smile - even when he's grumpy as hell;)

don kerr

6 years ago #7

Gert Scholtz I love the Elmore Leonard quote in particular. Here's one of my favourites to add to your impressive list. “The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.” — Muriel Rukeyser

Milos Djukic

6 years ago #6

Thank you Gert Scholtz.

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #5

Thanks, Gert, for the mention. "I am therefore I write" is an attractive way for writers to think about what the do. However, it might be to put da horse before Descartes. The most important thing is not to take ourselves too seriously. Cheers!

Ian Weinberg

6 years ago #4

Inspiring stuff. Thanks for compiling another gem Gert Scholtz

Kevin Pashuk

6 years ago #3

A most enjoyable read on writing Gert.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #2

Todd Jones You are mentioned in this post.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #1

Jim Murray You are mentioned in this post.

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5 years ago · 1 min. reading time

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