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The Write Quotes: The Writing Life
These inspirational and practical quotes come from 500+ podcast interviews with hard-working, award-winning, and New York Times bestselling authors in more than 33 U.S. states and five countries.
In Book 1, authors share their honest reflections on The Writing Life .
These quotes reveal what it really feels like to be a writer.
Authors quoted include David Baldacci, Therese Anne Fowler, Steve Berry, Lisa Jewell, John Hart, Sophie Cousens, Ron Rash, C.J. Box, Craig Johnson, Wylie Cash, Kristy Harvey, Brad Taylor, Charlie Lovett, Judy Goldman, Chris Fabry, Amber Smith, Tracy Clark, John Gilstrap, Kimmery Martin, A.J. Hartley, Clyde Edgerton, Jill McCorkle, Jason Mott, Mark de Castrique, Cathy Pickens, David Joy, and many more.
As the late Anthony Abbott so eloquently says in this book, “Writing is not about writing, necessarily. Writing is about living. And the more deeply and fully you live, the more you are able to write.”
There is hope in this book but there is also angst and humility. Case in point is a quote by New York Times bestselling author John Hart, who says that the writing life is so unbelievably wonderful that he feels “deep down that the universe must have plans to take that all away.” It makes him work even harder on his next book.
The writers quoted in these pages grab for their pens and fire up their computers for the love of writing. They have a common urge to create, to use letters, words, and sentences to tell stories, either about themselves, or others, or about characters they create in their writing chambers. They write for therapy or to understand themselves and the world around them. They write for the sake of writing. They write for publication. They write to be remembered. They write to be heard and understood. And as more than one author says, they write because they can’t not write.
In Book 1, authors share their honest reflections on The Writing Life .
These quotes reveal what it really feels like to be a writer.
Authors quoted include David Baldacci, Therese Anne Fowler, Steve Berry, Lisa Jewell, John Hart, Sophie Cousens, Ron Rash, C.J. Box, Craig Johnson, Wylie Cash, Kristy Harvey, Brad Taylor, Charlie Lovett, Judy Goldman, Chris Fabry, Amber Smith, Tracy Clark, John Gilstrap, Kimmery Martin, A.J. Hartley, Clyde Edgerton, Jill McCorkle, Jason Mott, Mark de Castrique, Cathy Pickens, David Joy, and many more.
As the late Anthony Abbott so eloquently says in this book, “Writing is not about writing, necessarily. Writing is about living. And the more deeply and fully you live, the more you are able to write.”
There is hope in this book but there is also angst and humility. Case in point is a quote by New York Times bestselling author John Hart, who says that the writing life is so unbelievably wonderful that he feels “deep down that the universe must have plans to take that all away.” It makes him work even harder on his next book.
The writers quoted in these pages grab for their pens and fire up their computers for the love of writing. They have a common urge to create, to use letters, words, and sentences to tell stories, either about themselves, or others, or about characters they create in their writing chambers. They write for therapy or to understand themselves and the world around them. They write for the sake of writing. They write for publication. They write to be remembered. They write to be heard and understood. And as more than one author says, they write because they can’t not write.
150 pages, Paperback
Published March 2, 2023
49 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Landis Wade
17 books75 followersLandis Wade is a recovering trial lawyer who writes mysteries and legal thrillers with amateur sleuths and underdog attorneys.
His Christmas Courtroom Trilogy has been called a cross between My Cousin Vinny and Miracle on 34th Street.
His Indie Retirement Mystery series involves humor, good puzzles, and engaging retirees who solve mysteries with a historic component. Deadly Declarations, book 1 in the series, won ten awards, including Winner in the 2022 American Fiction Awards in the Cozy Mystery category, and Winner in the Mystery category in the 17th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. Next in the series is Deadly Gold Rush. His love of history led to this series.
Landis also founded the popular Charlotte Readers Podcast where he interviewed more than 500 authors, and compiled The Write Quotes series–8 books that feature inspirational and practical quotes from those authors. While podcasting, he co-wrote a novella with podcast co-host Sarah Archer titled Death by Podcasting, a comedic mystery about the danger of podcasting with author guests.
The Charlotte Writers Club awarded Landis their 2025 Adelia Kimball Founders Award for service to the club and the literary community. He lives in North Carolina, where he grew up, went to school, practiced law, and learned to write. He enjoys travel, playing golf, reading, and spending time in the mountains and at the beach.
His Christmas Courtroom Trilogy has been called a cross between My Cousin Vinny and Miracle on 34th Street.
His Indie Retirement Mystery series involves humor, good puzzles, and engaging retirees who solve mysteries with a historic component. Deadly Declarations, book 1 in the series, won ten awards, including Winner in the 2022 American Fiction Awards in the Cozy Mystery category, and Winner in the Mystery category in the 17th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. Next in the series is Deadly Gold Rush. His love of history led to this series.
Landis also founded the popular Charlotte Readers Podcast where he interviewed more than 500 authors, and compiled The Write Quotes series–8 books that feature inspirational and practical quotes from those authors. While podcasting, he co-wrote a novella with podcast co-host Sarah Archer titled Death by Podcasting, a comedic mystery about the danger of podcasting with author guests.
The Charlotte Writers Club awarded Landis their 2025 Adelia Kimball Founders Award for service to the club and the literary community. He lives in North Carolina, where he grew up, went to school, practiced law, and learned to write. He enjoys travel, playing golf, reading, and spending time in the mountains and at the beach.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 18, 2024
This collection of quotes is not worth your time; well meant for sure, but nothing to get you fired up or leaving you inspired. For better advice on writing be sure to check out the classics by William Zinsser: On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction and Writing to Learn: How to Write--And Think--Clearly about Any Subject at All, The Art of Slow Writing: Reflections on Time, Craft, and Creativity and of course Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
April 11, 2023
Listen to what comes with this book! Stick it in your ear. Really. They’ve buried the lede. The great thing about this book is the easy access you get with it to a deeper conversation with hundreds of successful writers—names you know and read—who have a wealth of experience in building a successful, happy, writing life—or a tormented, tortured one, if that’s your thing. And these generous writers are sharing it with you because they care about the craft and art and the why of writing. So, skim through the quotes about the writing life. Then pick one, any one, or pick them all, you’ll find a list of authors at the back of the Kindle book with clickable links that take you to the conversation on the Charlotte Readers Podcast with that writer. Then you can listen and learn to your heart’s content. This book of quotes is a gateway to conversations about the writing life and the first in the series about storytelling in prose and poetry, about writing characters and plot and setting, about the ups and downs and the travails of seeking publication, about the community of writers, and in the end the joy of it all. So, what are you waiting for? Get the book and stick all that great knowledge and advice about the writing life right where it can help you most. Listen. I’m telling you, it’s great.
October 23, 2023
There are so many times that I have wished I could speak with authors to ask their advice on every subject from how did you get your idea, to how do you know if anybody wants to hear your words, to how in the world do you get your writing out there. Landis and Sarah have provided a valuable resource for those of us who are full of questions about being a writer and a published author. You can pick this book up, scan through it, and find wisdom for that moment. Then you can pick it up another time, scan through it, and find wisdom for a new question. It’s like having a writer in the room as a resource. The idea for using the voices of hundreds of authors they interview on their podcast is brilliant. Thanks for taking the time to gather wisdom into this book series. It is a time saver for the rest of us. Lisa Batten Kunkleman, author of Life Stories and Beyond: Just Because I Used to Could.
February 10, 2023
Have you ever wanted to sit down with the author of the book you just finished reading and ask a bunch of questions? Well, Landis Wade has done just that with his remarkable podcast, Charlotte Readers Podcast. He has been asking authors questions for years. And now look what he's done! He pulled many of the answers he heard and compiled them in books. Apparently, this is the first one. And it's a doozy. So much fun to read. So tantalizing to think about all the different perspectives from these writers. I highly recommend.
March 27, 2023
This is a really neat collection of observations, reflections, and words of wisdom from authors across the spectrum. Charlotte Readers Podcast is such a great show for writers and readers alike, and this book is a nice encapsulation of the insights found regularly on the podcast. As an author, the book is quite useful for inspiration during those tough times when motivation is low and I need a reminder why I do this writing thing. I think avid readers who don't write would also enjoy it as a behind-the-scenes on what fuels the creative process. Highly recommended!
April 11, 2023
The Writing Life is a devotional book for writers, those who admit to the moniker; those not yet ready to accept who you are. :) Open any page to feed your daily inspiration! From David Baldacci to Therese Anne Fowler, these gems surprise you with their stark directness. Here writers unmask their raw, honest feelings about the writing act. Indulge in this book to see yourself amongst them. It's as good as being a bird perched on their desk.
July 26, 2023
This was a fun and quick read. It is a collection of quotes by writers about writing. It captures a theme that is probably known to most writers ... I write because I must. Different writers say it in different ways. There are different reasons that they 'must' write. But in the end, writers write. That's what they do. And the collection of quotes about the writing life bear that out. If you are a writer you know this. If you aspire to be one, you know this.
March 6, 2023
The writing life with all its warts and rewards is showcased in Landis Wade’s excellent compendium of eye-opening responses to interview questions writers were asked on his Charlotte Readers Podcast over the years. As a writer myself, I find a nugget of inspiration and encouragement in each carefully honed segment. My new favorite resource for all things reading and writing!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews