Planning to write is not writing. Outlining, researching, talking to people about what you're doing, none of that is writing. Writing is writing.

Quote by E L Doctorow

Topics: E L Doctorow Quotes

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time...

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time...

I try to avoid experience if I can. Most experience is bad.

I try to avoid experience if I can. Most experience is bad.

It's like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but...

It's like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but...

The writer isn't made in a vacuum. Writers are witnesses. The reason we need writers...

The writer isn't made in a vacuum. Writers are witnesses. The reason we need writers...

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.

Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader - not the fact that...

Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader - not the fact that...

There is no longer any such thing as fiction or nonfiction; there's only narrative.

There is no longer any such thing as fiction or nonfiction; there's only narrative.

History is the present. That's why every generation writes it anew. But what most people...

History is the present. That's why every generation writes it anew. But what most people...

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time...

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time...

I thought I would lose, so I didn't prepare a speech.

I thought I would lose, so I didn't prepare a speech.

Like art and politics, gangsterism is a very important avenue of assimilation into society.

Like art and politics, gangsterism is a very important avenue of assimilation into society.

Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far...

Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far...

In the twentieth century one of the most personal relationships to have developed is that...

In the twentieth century one of the most personal relationships to have developed is that...

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.

We're always attracted to the edges of what we are, out by the edges where...

We're always attracted to the edges of what we are, out by the edges where...

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time...

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time...

About the beginning of the seventeenth century appeared a race of writers that may be...

About the beginning of the seventeenth century appeared a race of writers that may be...

Editorial writers enter after battle and shoot the wounded.

Editorial writers enter after battle and shoot the wounded.

Many great writers have been extraordinarily awkward in daily exchange, but the greatest give the...

Many great writers have been extraordinarily awkward in daily exchange, but the greatest give the...