Writing Changes Everything: The 627 Best Things Anyone Ever Said About Writing

by Deborah Brodie

This uncommonly inspiring and lively book collects the insights of novelists, short-story writers, biographers, playwrights, and poets, along with literary agents, editors, and publishers (and an occasional dancer, movie director, physicist, or sculptor), all sounding off on writing and the creative life.

Genres: Nonfiction

146 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1997

Reviews

[Punk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quotes About Writing -- and this is my favorite part -- on the verso, there's your standard warning against reproducing the text: "No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews." Emphasis mine. I'm no copyright lawyer, but that seems kinda...unlikely. Like I think Woody Allen probably has first crack at owning his own words. But whatever!

This is a book of quotes! Most of which are about writing! Though a lot seem to be about dancing, which isn't the same thing as writing at all. Still! Also it is the type of "writing" that includes "getting paid for it" and "being published" and "having your work reviewed." So it's not going to reflect everybody's experience with writing, which is something you can do for fun no matter what all these jaded, privileged, self-important artists are saying when they say that if you can avoid writing, do so, and it'll ruin your life but it's not like you have a choice, and etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Three stars. The quotes are organized by subject and come from writers, poets, editors, dancers, and Satchel Paige. It also has an index. I starred my favorites; here's one: "Always write the characters you disagree with stronger than the ones you agree with." -- Jonathan Tolin. And that use was totally in keeping with copyright law.

[D. Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little book full of insightful, inspiring, sometimes humorous quotes on writing and the writer's life by a wide range of authors, artists, actors, and anyone who has ever led a creative life.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is just a compilation of quotes from authors, but I found it insightful and inspiring.

[Suzanne Hess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading someone else's commonplace book is a guilty pleasure.