Jen Knox > Quotes

“An intelligent person can rationalize anything; a wise person doesn't try.”
― Jen Knox, Chaos Magic

“Only by examining our personal biases can we grow as artists; only by cultivating empathy can we grow as people.”
― Jen Knox, Chaos Magic

“When the writing is good, a book becomes a mirror. The reader will see an uncanny familiarity and respond accordingly.”
― Jen Knox, Chaos Magic

“Mistakes are lessons and lessons are gifts. Examine them.”
― Jen Knox, Chaos Magic

“When we get comfortable with our own strength, discomfort changes shape. We remember our power.”
― Jen Knox, The Glass City

“The best way to keep your house spotless is to begin writing a novel.”
― Jen Knox, Chaos Magic

“Inviting arguments is easy. The goal is to write something bold enough to invite contrary feedback and provoke real discussion.”
― Jen Knox, After the Gazebo

“We need to be willing to mess up, to look silly, to be imperfect. The uber wealthy or network-driven can find short term successes by hiding flaws or hiring a team of image makers, but it's all temporary. True art, true connectivity, true love is about being authentic and vulnerable. These are the messages that carry weight and survive time.”
― Jen Knox, The Best Small Fictions 2017

“We can only ever know ourselves, and by doing so honestly, we come to know the world.”
― Jen Knox, Chaos Magic

“As a writer, my mission is to represent the perceptible world in such a way that readers can see the extraordinary that lives all around them. I want to converse on the page. I want to squash the humdrum, the mendacity that arrives due to too many overworked routines and overfed expectations. I want to entertain and awaken. I want to imagine and observe. I want to spin my fiction from an honest, curious place.”
― Jen Knox, After the Gazebo

“I feel incredibly lucky that perfection is so boring.”
― Jen Knox, Chaos Magic

“Don’t forget how much impact you can have simply by believing in another’s potential. And your belief just might lead to their belief in yet another. This is the kind of impact that we can't measure. It’s too big.”
― Jen Knox, Chaos Magic

“I'm going to enjoy my life, whether others want me to or not.”
― Jen Knox, Chaos Magic

“Share your creative gifts. Because they are gifts.”
― Jen Knox, Chaos Magic

“It takes a lot of grit to remain kind and centered in a cruel world.”
― Jen Knox, Chaos Magic

“Storytelling is about exploring the nuances of life, the anguish within beauty and the wisdom within pain. When we hold our stories inside, they weigh us down. When we release them, we find not only voice but perspective.”
― Jen Knox, After the Gazebo

“Don't write to recount the pain. Write to reclaim the joy.”
― Jen Knox, We Arrive Uninvited