Tag: Mark Twain

quotations, writing

Celebrity quotations on whisky

In praise of whisky / whiskey I am rather partial to a drop of whisky now and again (whiskey if you are Irish or American) and I am not alone in enjoying some “liquid sunshine”. Some kindred spirits offer their thoughts. “I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis.” (Last words of Humphrey Bogart, … Continue reading Celebrity quotations on whisky

authorship, ghost writing, writing

Pen names and other authorship devices

A pen name, also known as a nom de plume, is an assumed name used by a writer instead of their own real name. It can also be a variant form of their real name and might be known only to the publisher or might be widely known.

authorship, proofreading, tips for writers, writing

Tips on how to avoid some pitfalls in writing

They say there is a book in each one of us waiting to be written. If that is true it is probably easier for some people than others to turn that into a published book. The first decision to take is about what to write. Tip 1: Write about what you know Not everyone can … Continue reading Tips on how to avoid some pitfalls in writing

authors on authors, authorship, editing, humour, writing

Authors’ quotations on writing: What do writers think of their craft?

I have discussed previously authors’ quotations about each other – sometimes derogatory – but how do they and others regard the craft of writing? Here are a few of the more humorous ones. “The covers of this book are too far apart.” (Ambrose Bierce) “That’s not writing, it’s typing.” (Truman Capote on Jack Kerouac) “Coleridge … Continue reading Authors’ quotations on writing: What do writers think of their craft?

authors on authors, literary invective, writing

Authors attack! What they think of each other

Some while ago I wrote about Mark Twain’s opinion of Jane Austen and other authors, but what do other authors and critics think of him and each other? The comments are hardly of glowing admiration. On Mark Twain “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.” (Ernest Hemingway) “A … Continue reading Authors attack! What they think of each other

quotations

Mark Twain quotations

In two of my blogs last year – April and May 2015 on Literary invective – I covered Mark Twain’s thoughts, firstly on Jane Austen as an author, then on various other authors: Oliver Goldsmith, Sir Walter Scott, and James Fennimore Cooper. Here I will quote from Mark Twain’s own humorous writings. He sounds like … Continue reading Mark Twain quotations

authors on authors

Literary invective: Mark Twain on other authors

  In part 1 of my blog on literary invective I referred to Mark Twain’s comments about Jane Austen: ‘I haven’t any right to criticize books, and I don’t do it except when I hate them. I often want to criticize Jane Austen, but her books madden me … Every time I read Pride and … Continue reading Literary invective: Mark Twain on other authors