Amanda Patterson's Quotations on Writing

There’s no such thing as Writer’s Block. The problem you have is laziness.

I’m not looking for the great South African novel. I’m looking for a good read.

If you can’t explain your plot in 30 seconds, I don’t want to read your novel.

The reason most South African novels only reach sales of 2000 copies is because they are dire.

I admire J M Coetzee for his determination to never use adverbs and unnecessary adjectives.

Adverbs, and the authors who use them, should be deleted.

It’s not about what was said. It’s about what was read.
~ (on being asked about all things literary for 2007)

Do not wait for inspiration. It’s never on time.

You can have your book or you can have your excuses. You can’t have both.

Dream as if you’ll live forever. Write as if you’ll die today.

You have permission to write badly.

One page a day is a 365 page novel in a year.

Tell your story not because you understand it, but because you don’t.

A good author doesn’t have to say a word. Her writing speaks for itself.

If you have to explain your book to me, rewrite it. I doubt that you will be there when I’m reading it.

Setting is character. Character is setting.

Write a memoir or write a novel.  Why would I want to read a book based on your life if it has to hide behind your words?

 ~~~~~

Gathered from creating, and teaching the course, Writers Write, 50 Authors Published since 2003