Ashley Thomas Quotes

Writing is very good for household tasks. Because you'd rather fix a dripping tap or paint an old wall - you'd rather do almost anything than sit and write. I have to reach a point of obsession in order to write, and so I find starting a book incredibly difficult.

I have no writing habit. I work when I feel like it, and I work when I have to - mostly the latter.

I couldn't understand why my productivity went down when I had deliberately made more time available to write. Then I realized it was because I wasn't flying as much.

Sometimes I decide I don't want to write because it isn't the thing for me to be doing right then, and I go do something else.

We go to the office every day when we're writing - or supposed to be writing. It's not always productive, and there's a lot of procrastinating, just staring at the wall, like any other writing. But we just make ourselves go to the office every day for more or less the whole day.

Every day, I tell myself, 'It will be better if I spend more time on thinking about good ideas and working instead of watching TV or shopping.'

Getting to my typewriter is something I push myself to, but once I am working, I work hard.

My enthusiasm seems to cause my world to endlessly offer me cooperative, co-creating experiences. I'm willing and I'm eager, and not just about my writing - I feel the same way about staying in shape, enjoying my family, giving a lecture, or whatever it may be.

I have ideas every day, and if I'm not carrying a pad of paper, I'm typing it into the notes thing on my iPhone, and it's just ridiculous - idle hands are the devil's plaything, and I can't be the devil's plaything. I got to be the devil; I got to be the guy making it all happen.

Things are not difficult to make; what is difficult is putting ourselves in the state of mind to make them.

Give yourself something to work toward - constantly.

My agent, Jeff Andrews, suggested I write a book. For some reason. he doesn't like it when I'm not doing anything.

Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a single area of our lives.

I'm guessing the stress of having to write for a deadline can be inspiring. Sometimes, pressure is good.

Comparison is a disease. I never felt any competition, since I never compared myself to others. I only focus on my work. I never feel pressurised and do films in my style. Also, I'm very active since childhood, and that gives me the edge to always put my best.

Successful writers say you should never work from a desk with a view, and the view I have from this one is a huge distraction. There's a garden bursting with fresh vegetation, and just beyond the high wall at the end of it, I can see the sign of the local pub across the road. Distractions, eh? I'm so easily led.

Also, I'm always learning better and better how to prioritize and how to leave certain things for the next day.

The most difficult thing about painting is the self-discipline. When I finish a job, I give myself a few days, but then I have to discipline myself quite fiercely if I want to do some painting that's worthwhile. Otherwise, you're just doodling. It's much easier when you're just told what you have to do.

There're so many things I want to do, like become more media savvy. I am too lazy. But I'm making an effort.

I'm not always as disciplined as I should be. I don't sit down and write every day, but I should.

The ultimate inspiration is the deadline.

My writing life is always a bit disorganized. It's hard for me to get going, but sometimes, once I begin, I go like the wind.

I should be writing a poem every morning but I'm not.

I have great ideas, but the follow through is always really difficult for me. As my kid gets a little bit older, if I feel like I have a little bit more time on my hands, I'd like to get more into developing ideas and writing things.

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.