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W. Somerset Maugham on Writing

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“We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to.”
#696
W. Somerset Maugham

More from W. Somerset Maugham

“A good style should show no signs of effort. What is written should seem a happy accident.”
#697
W. Somerset Maugham
“The best style is the style you don't notice.”
#698
W. Somerset Maugham
“You cannot write well or much (and I venture the opinion that you cannot write well unless you write much) unless you form a habit.”
#699
W. Somerset Maugham
“Words have weight, sound and appearance; it is only by considering these that you can write a sentence that is good to look at and good to listen to.”
#700
W. Somerset Maugham
“Habits in writing as in life are only useful if they are broken as soon as they cease to be advantageous.”
#701
W. Somerset Maugham
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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