Ten Useful Quotes about Writing

November 20, 2025

by Lesléa Newman, faculty, writing for children and young adults

“First thought best thought” –Allen Ginsberg

Since Allen was my teacher, I happen to know what this means and more importantly what it doesn’t mean. Allen didn’t mean that the first thing you put down is your best piece of writing and it doesn’t need revision. It means that you should never lose sight of the original spark of inspiration that got you excited about any particular piece of writing as you revise, revise, revise.

“Need 100 pages? Give me three days. Need three pages? Give me 100 days.” –Mark Twain

Many writers think short equals easy. This is simply not true. Writing a picture book of 500 words or fewer that contain fully developed characters, a plot, conflict, authentic-sounding dialogue, a beginning, middle, and end, as well as genuine emotion is very challenging. As is writing a haiku. There is no room for filler. Every single word has to earn its space on the page.

“The title taps you on the shoulder. The first line takes you by the hand.” –Patricia MacLachlan

I love this poetic piece of advice from Patty who was my best friend and writing buddy for twenty-five years. What’s the first thing your reader sees? The title of your work. It has to be intriguing. As does the first line, which is the only thing that will compel your reader to read your second line. Convince your reader right from the start that your book is unputdownable. Who wouldn’t want to read a book titled Sarah, Plain and Tall that begins, “ ‘Did Mama sing every day?’ asked Caleb,” which won Patty the Newbery Award?

“The world is not made of atoms. The world is made of stories.” –Muriel Rukeyser

“To have a childhood means to live a thousand lives before the one.” –Rainier Maria Rilke

Two for the price of one! Both of these quotes speak to the fact that each of us contains a treasure trove of stories just waiting to be told. There are no exceptions. Not even you. Our job as writers is to dig deep, find our own unique stories, get them onto the page and turn them into beautiful poetry and prose.

“Adverbs are the crabmeat filler of literature.” –Stephen King

When was the last time you used “unimpressively,” “charmingly” or “puzzlingly” in real life? If you don’t use a particular word in daily conversation, it doesn’t belong in your writing. Clunky adverbs draw attention to themselves. Avoid them whenever possible. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, but remember to use adverbs sparingly (see what I did there?).

“I spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out.” –Oscar Wilde

Look at every word, every punctuation mark, every everything and make sure it is exactly right. Read your writing out loud and listen for its musicality. You are not just telling a story; you are creating a work of art. Make sure your writing sings!

“No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.” –Robert Frost

Let go of control and let your writing lead you where it may. Even if you write from an outline, I encourage you to hold it loosely. Writing is like life; one can have a plan, but we all know about best-laid plans. If your writing is constantly surprising you—and hopefully delighting you—you’re on the right track.

“The editor who will fall in love with your work may not even have been born yet.” –Jane Yolen

This might sound discouraging, but Jane, with whom I was in a writing group for many years, meant this to be encouraging. The truth is, establishing a literary career takes time. If you believe in a manuscript, never give up on it. I have sold a manuscript to the first editor I sent it to and I have sold a manuscript to the twenty-sixth editor I sent it to. While your work is out there looking for a home, the best thing to do is forget about it—ha! easier said than done—and start writing something else.

“You’re a genius all the time.” –Jack Kerouac

Believe in yourself! Try all kinds of writing and amaze yourself with the brilliance of your own mind. Some of my best writing has come from scribbling in a notebook when I didn’t have any ideas and didn’t know what to say. Write whether or not you feel inspired. Like an athlete or musician, a writer needs to practice. And often during a “practice session” something unexpected and magical appears on the page that will reveal to you the genius of your own mind.

“If there’s a book you want to read and it hasn’t been written yet, you must write it.” –Toni Morrison

You must!

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Lesléa Newman has created more than 85 books for readers of all ages, including the teen novel-in-verse October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard, the middle-grade novel Hachiko Waits, the picture books Joyful Song: A Naming Story, Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story, Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed,  Heather Has Two Mommies, and Sparkle Boy, and the dual memoir-in-verse, I Carry My Mother and I Wish My Father. Her literary awards are numerous. Visit Newman’s website.