The F Words: Quoting Myself

Authors are often called upon to come up with quotes. This is especially true if somebody (a fellow author, an institution, a journal of some kind) wants a testimonial or a capsule summary of something. I have often given such quotes, which are usually pithy (50 words or so) statements about whatever the subject matter happens to be.

But these statements are written or spoken right then and there, for that particular occasion or need. For example, a library might request, “Could you g...