John Kenneth Galbraith Quotes

Inspiration does not always precede the act of writing; it often follows it.

I write a chapter, then edit it and edit it and edit it and edit it. I don't think we mine creativity from within. It's bestowed from on high, from God.

If I get ideas independently of the act of writing, they never really fit. So for me, there's no hanging out, waiting for inspiration.

I might write four lines or I might write twenty. I subtract and I add until I really hit something I want to do. You don't always whittle down, sometimes you whittle up.

I've never had a writer's block, but still I think: 'Is it going to happen this time?' You never know what you're going to get; you just put your fingers on the keys and hope.

Having imagination it takes you an hour to write a paragraph that if you were unimaginative would take you only a minute.

Most people wait for the muse to turn up. That's terribly unreliable. I have to sit down and pursue the muse by attempting to work.

Writing is a funny thing. It's not like you're working on a schedule. It comes in fits and starts.

When it comes to lyrics, I just write down a lot of things, and only a very tiny fraction of it, I think, is any good.

I do not believe in inspiration, but I must have a title in order to work, otherwise I am lost.

I devote most of my day to writing, and try to turn out at least four pages a day. As for what triggers the creative process, it's a mystery to me! Characters often just walk on the page, and I wait to see what they do and say while I'm writing them.

The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working.

Songwriting is like editing. You write down all this stuff - all this bad, stupid stuff - and then you have to get rid of everything except the very best.

People might be surprised to know how much I throw away. For every page I publish, I throw 10 pages away.

There's no such thing as writer's block. I'm brilliant all the time every day. It never stops.

I don't believe in writer's block.

I've always found it best to have a routine. I go to my study at the same time every day and climb into my bay window. I may not be inspired every day, but on the days I am, I need to be in place to write. If I'm not particularly inspired, I'll revise or do research or correspondence.

I think too many people edit themselves way too soon. There's plenty of time to edit, and it is a crucial part of it all, too.

It's not that I sit down and write great stuff without thinking, not at all. Most of it is terrible. But the stuff that feels fun and fresh to me tends to happen fairly unthinkingly.

I always want to make sure the book I'm writing is the best book I can deliver.

There's no writer's block; there's only distraction.

I really believe that cultivating creativity, as a general principle, is about managing your energy.

I'm really happy when I'm actively creating things. When I'm frustrated and not excited, it's because I haven't written anything in a month or so.

Sometimes I'll go without writing for a while and I'll start to be driven nuts. I start doubting my writing ability. So I'll sit down and a dozen songs will pop out. It's fun.

Sometimes you don't really know what you're going to write about. I mean, there's times where you get into a writing room and it's a complete flop. And then there's times where you get to a writing room and you're like, 'Oh, I'm just on a roll.'