Francine Prose Quotes about Writing

Like most-maybe all- writers, I learned to write by writing and, by example, by reading books.

Like most-maybe all- writers, I learned to write by writing and, by example, by reading books.

Book, Reading, Writing

Francine Prose (2012). “Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them”, p.6, Union Books

All the elements of good writing depend on the writer's skill in choosing one word instead of another.

Francine Prose

Writing, Skills, Creative

Francine Prose (2009). “Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them”, p.16, Harper Collins

If we want to write, it makes sense to read—and to read like a writer. If we wanted to grow roses, we would want to visit rose gardens and try to see them the way that a rose gardener would.

Francine Prose

Writing, Garden, Rose

Every page was once a blank page, just as every word that appears on it now was not always there, but instead reflects the final result of countless large and small deliberations. All the elements of good writing depend on the writer's skill in choosing one word instead of another. And what grabs and keeps our interest has everything to do with those choices.

Francine Prose

Writing, Skills, Choices

Francine Prose (2009). “Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them”, p.16, Harper Collins

If things are going well I can easily spend twelve hours a day writing, but not writing writing, just thinking and revising and taking a comma out and putting it back in.

Francine Prose

Writing, Thinking, Twelve