15 Creative Writing Quotes Every Writer Should Know 

A white box with dialogue punctuation marks in the corners. In the middle of the box is some handwriting to symbolise creative writing quotes.

Writing is a journey full of ups, downs, and everything in between. It’s inspiring, frustrating, and sometimes, it feels like it’s just you and the page. 

With writing being such a solitary endeavour, there’s nothing like a motivational quote from a fellow writer to remind us why we write in the first place or to overcome self-doubt. 

Here are some of the best creative writing quotes from aspiring writers who know exactly how you feel. Whether you’re writing a novel or a poem, these quotes about writing are sure to inspire you. 

1. “When all else fails, write what your heart tells you. You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” – Mark Twain

2.. You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” –  Jodi Picoult

3. “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”  –  Toni Morrison

4. “The scariest moment is always just before you start.” Stephen King

5. “First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!”–  Ray Bradbury

6. “Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” –  William Wordsworth

7.  Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic.” – J. K. Rowling

8. “You don’t write because you want to say something; you write because you’ve got something to say.” –  F. Scott Fitzgerald

9. “If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.”Margaret Atwood

10. And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” – Sylvia Plath 

11. “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”Anton Chekhov

12. “The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.”  –  Anaïs Nin

13. “By the time I am nearing the end of a story, the first part will have been reread and altered and corrected at least one hundred and fifty times. I am suspicious of both facility and speed. Good writing is essentially rewriting. I am positive of this.” – Roald Dahl

14. A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” –  Thomas Mann

15. “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.”  Terry Pratchett

Keep These Creative Writing Quotes Nearby As You Write

These quotes capture what it really means to be a writer: the highs, the lows, and the beauty of putting thoughts into words. Whether you’re just starting out or already publishing your work, remember that every good writer has faced doubt, celebrated small wins, and felt like giving up. 

Remember to keep these quotes handy or use other tools such as inspiring picture prompts when you feel at a dead end. So keep going – your writing has the power to connect and inspire! 

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