Lisa Scottoline Quotes

No one writes a great book every time out, or even a good book.

I read what I write over and over and make corrections and improvements, until I reach the conclusion that the material deserves to stand on its own.

I think a man turns into a writer by editing his own texts.

And the most important thing you can do is learn to edit yourself. And then go back and rewrite.

And I think a good writer's gonna make it interesting. From the first paragraph it will all be interesting. Just work at it and work at it and work at it.

I'm really happy to have the chance to talk about the editing process. It's something that I think doesn't get the weight it deserves, especially with the rise of self-publishing.

There is no motivation higher than being a good writer.

People think that writing is writing, but actually writing is editing. Otherwise, you're just taking notes

I edit as I write. I revise endlessly. I don't go forward until I know that what I've written is as good as I can make it.

I knew I would read all kinds of books and try to get at what it is that makes good writers good. But I made no promises that I would write books a lot of people would like to read.

Good writing of course requires talent, and no one can teach you to have talent.

There are things you do when you're writing that are so fun to do it's almost like they're private jokes that are amusing to you but no one else is going to enjoy them nearly as much and you worry you're going to have to take them out in the end.

I'm very happy with the way I write. I think I do it good. But I've never really considered myself a writer.

One of the agonies of being an author is to know when to stop writing.

I have a problem with blogs - all the best writers benefit from edits.

Writing is probably one-fifth coming up with the stuff, and four-fifths self-editing again and again and again.

The best writers who have put pen to paper have often had a journalism background.

I've never read a book or attended a class on screenwriting. I'm not opposed to the idea, but I like what I've got going on naturally and want to protect that. The one question I will ask myself as I'm re-reading a script for the 60th time is, 'Am I entertained? Still?' If the answer is 'yes,' I'll assume other people will be, too.

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 think you can be taught to write. You can't be taught to be a good writer. For that, you have to bring something to it, yourself, something that can't be given to you.

I write the paragraph, then I'm crossing out, changing words, trying to improve it. When it seems more or less OK, then I type it up because sometimes it's almost illegible, and if I wait, I might not be able to read it the next day.

I'm inspired by playwrights, novelists, poets: The value of language has been a lifelong passion of mine. I enjoy it. I'm good at it.

My self-editing process is intense.

Revision is the heart of writing. Every page I do is done over seven or eight times.

If you are a good writer - and I think I am - you are able to handle any kind of group and imagine their lives.