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Truman Capote on Writing

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“It takes a lot of bad writing to get to a little good writing.”
#521
Truman Capote

More from Truman Capote

“Never demean yourself by talking back to a critic, never. Write those letters to the editor in your head, but don't put them on paper.”
#522
Truman Capote
“Writing in the first person automatically gives you a point of view.”
#523
Truman Capote
“I also write the last paragraph or page of a story first. That way I always know what I'm working towards.”
#524
Truman Capote
“When I'm writing, I never write more than four hours a day.”
#525
Truman Capote
“When I am writing, I try to do it five hours a day but I spend about two of those just fooling around.”
#526
Truman Capote
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Focus Saved In my younger and more vulnerable years years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” He didn’t say any more, but we’ve always been unusually communicative in a reserved way, and I understood that he meant a great deal more than that. In consequence, I’m inclined to reserve all judgements, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores. | The Great Gatsby Chapter I Words 106 Writing Time 00:18:20 / 00:30:00 Speed 342 words/hour
In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” He didn’t say any more, but we’ve always been unusually communicative in a reserved way, and I understood that he meant a great deal more than that. In consequence, I’m inclined to reserve all judgements, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores. | The Great Gatsby 12:46:32 Chapter I 106 W 00:18:20