Please don't entertain for a moment the utterly mistaken idea that there is no drudgery in writing. There is a great deal of drudgery in even the most inspired, the most noble, the most distinguished writing. Read what the great ones have said about their jobs; how they never sit down to their work without a sigh of distress and never get up from it witout a sigh of relief. Do you imagine that your Muse is forever flamelike -- breathing the inspired word, the wonderful situation, the superb solution into your attentive ear? .. Believe me, my poor boy, if you wait for inspiration in our set-up, you'll wait for ever. Ngaio Marsh
About This Quote

This quote is more than just pure advice. Using the example of the great writers it shows that no matter how inspired you are you still have to put in some work. No one is born a great writer, they have to put in some work to become great. Whether you are writing a short story or a novel it takes time and effort.

Source: Death On The Air And Other Stories

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More Quotes By Ngaio Marsh
  1. We do not wait for inspiration. We work because we've jolly well got to. But when all is said and done, we toil at this particular job because it's turned out to be our particular job, and in a weird sort of way I suppose...

  2. Above all things -- read. Read the great stylists who cannot be copied rather than the successful writers who must not be copied.

  3. Why do you want to become an author? I will accept only one answer. If it is because you feel you can write better than you can do anything else then go ahead and do it without frills and flourishes. Stick to your present job...

  4. You must be able to write. You must have a sense of form, of pattern, of design. You must have a respect for and a mastery over words.

  5. Please don't entertain for a moment the utterly mistaken idea that there is no drudgery in writing. There is a great deal of drudgery in even the most inspired, the most noble, the most distinguished writing. Read what the great ones have said about their...

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