Write Better Quotes

“Metaphors, similes, and analogies sharpen the sword of our writing. They allow us to cut quickly through the fat to the meat of our purpose (p. 146).”
― Andrew T. Le Peau, Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality

“Even T. S. Eliot, one of the best-known and successful poets of the twentieth century, was a banker. Poetry simply did not pay the bills.”
― Andrew T. Le Peau, Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality

“Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces; but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully.”
― Andrew T. Le Peau, Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality

“To read or not to read: that is the question.”
― Andrew T. Le Peau, Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality

“Criticism is not just something to be endured. It is something to help us grow and improve (p. 214).”
― Andrew T. Le Peau, Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality

“The goal of writers is not complete originality but to take the past and give it a shake, a fresh look that helps us see reality differently and better (p. 185).”
― Andrew T. Le Peau, Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality

“Regardless of what we are writing, however, we must treat our readers with dignity. Don’t announce that you are going to tell a funny joke or story. Give readers the dignity of deciding for themselves if it is humorous. Besides, doing so makes it less funny because you have given away the element of surprise. Don’t say a story will be sad or happy or startling. That inoculates the reader against sadness or happiness or shock. Just tell the story (p. 159).”
― Andrew T. Le Peau, Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality

“When we are too focused on readers getting our point, we can become didactic and perhaps preachy, engaging only one dimension—perhaps just the mind or just the will. Art engages the whole person—will, heart, soul, mind, and strength (p. 158).”
― Andrew T. Le Peau, Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality

“Grammar has one—and only one—purpose: to facilitate clear, effective, powerful, artful communication (p. 129).”
― Andrew T. Le Peau, Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality

“If we want to be honest persuaders, we will be on the lookout for and stay away from hasty generalizations, false analogies, demonizing opponents, avoiding or sidelining the central issue (that is, using red herrings), and more. Honesty means respecting the truth as best we can know it, respecting contrary viewpoints, giving due credit, and using logic (p. 44).”
― Andrew T. Le Peau, Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality

“If society rejects influence, only power remains. If we want our fellow citizens to care about the homeless, the elderly, teen pregnancy, the disadvantaged, drug abuse, abortion, the environment, education, crime, debt, families, or whatever, raw political force to compel compliance is our only tool. Only the power of the state is left to enforce our own agenda without regard for those who disagree or who may be harmed. When even this fails to yield satisfactory results, coercion’s close cousin, violence, is there to get things done.”
― Andrew T. Le Peau, Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality