All readers come to fiction as willing accomplices to your lies. Such is the basic goodwill contract made the moment we pick up a work of fiction. - Steve Almond, WD

Don’t use adjectives which merely tell us how you want us to feel about the thing you are describing. I mean, instead of telling us a thing was “terrible,” describe it so that we’ll be terrified. Don’t say it was “delightful”; make us say “delightful” when we’ve read the description. - CS Lewis

I do not over-intellectualize the production process. I try to keep it simple: Tell the damned story. - Tom Clancy

“We will speak for the books.""Like the Lorax?""The Lorax speaks for the trees.""Books are made out of paper.”“Paper is made out of trees.""What about e-books?""We can speak for them too.""Audiobooks?""Audiobooks speak for themselves."― Paul Acampora

Advertising brings in customers, but word-of-mouth brings in the best customers. - Jonah Berger

Good cover design is not only about beauty. It’s a visual sales pitch. It’s your first contact with a potential reader. Your cover only has around three seconds to catch a browsing reader’s attention. You want to stand out and make them pause and consider, and read the synopsis. - Eeva Lancaster

I don't care if a reader hates one of my stories, just as long as he finishes the book. - Roald Dahl

I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide. - Harper Lee

Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. - Anton Chekhov

An opening line should invite the reader to begin the story. It should say: Listen. Come in here. You want to know about this. - Stephen King