The book that will most change your life is the book you write. - Seth Godin

In teaching writing, I’m learning new things about writing. - David B Coe

I don’t try and write strong female characters or strong male characters. I just try and write, hopefully, strong characters and sometimes they happen to be female. - JJ Abrams

You do an awful lot of bad writing in order to do any good writing. Incredibly bad. I think it would be very interesting to make a collection of some of the worst writing by good writers. - William S Burroughs

It helps to be pretty thick-skinned if you’re going to enter contests. But anyone who writes for more than pure personal satisfaction knows that rejection is part of the deal. - Amy Cook

Don’t read success stories, you will only get a message. Read failure stories, you will get some ideas to get success. - Abdul Kalam

It’s important to note that guidelines may vary a little based on who you talk to or what you read, but by following the ones stated… you will make sure your manuscript looks clean, easy to read, and won’t get rejected because of sloppy formatting. - Brian A Klems

Many writers are paralyzed by the thought that they are competing with everybody else who is trying to write and presumably doing it better…. Forget the competition and go at your own pace. Your only contest is with yourself. - William Zinsser

Write your story as it needs to be written. Write it honestly, and tell it as best you can. I’m not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter. - Neil Gaiman

I always try to use my medium, and if I get into a normal sitcom-writing contest with normal sitcom writers, I'm going to lose. - Dan Harmon

Writers often wrestle with the written word alone, but competitions can be a way to connect with a larger community. After all, stories can benefit others, and judges of writing contests want to celebrate success. - Audrey Wick

Let’s face it: The ‘genius’ stuff happens in the editing process. - Jeff Goins

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. - Helen Keller

Once I came to really understand the mechanics of three-act structure, my life got a great deal easier. It doesn’t tell you how to write your book, but it helps you understand why things aren’t working, or what kind of beat needs to come next. - Marcus Sakey

The Ring passed to Isildur, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever, but the hearts of men are easily corrupted. And the ring of power has a will of its own. It betrayed Isildur, to his death. And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, the ring ensnared a new bearer. - Galadriel, The Lord of the Rings

Success and failure. We think of them as opposites, but they're really not. They're companions - the hero and the sidekick. - Laurence Shames

People underestimating me is my secret weapon. - James Patterson

“You still blush too easily when confronted,” Jasnah noted.“I’m sorry.”“And apologize too easily as well.”“I’m… uh, indignant?”- The Stormlight Archive

I’m being extremely clever up here, and there’s no one to stand around looking impressed. What’s the point in having you all? - Doctor Who

Westley: To the pain means the first thing you will lose will be your feet below the ankles. Then your hands at the wrists. Next your nose.Prince Humperdinck: And then my tongue I suppose, I killed you too quickly the last time. A mistake I don't mean to duplicate tonight.Westley: I wasn't finished. The next thing you will lose will be your left eye followed by your right.Prince Humperdinck: And then my ears, I understand let's get on with it.Westley: WRONG. Your ears you keep and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, "Dear God! What is that thing," will echo in your perfect ears. That is what "to the pain means." It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever. - The Princess Bride