Edward Zwick Quotes

Many fiction writers write for the critics or for themselves; they forget the common reader. I never do. I don't think journalism clashes with my fiction; on the contrary, it helps enormously.

I write what's given me to write.

I like writing my own material - I'm pretty good at it.

When I'm writing, I don't really have much other guide than, 'As a reader, how would I respond to this?'

I like to direct what I write.

It really helped me as a writer to understand how other writers think.

I knew I would read all kinds of books and try to get at what it is that makes good writers good. But I made no promises that I would write books a lot of people would like to read.

I've always liked new writing.

Once I had all the facts in, I found I didn't have the immoral courage to pull the caper. So I wrote it as a story. As a teenager, I didn't have any skills for writing as such, so it came out in 1500 words.

I came up with new leads for game stories by being observant and clever, by using the many gifts of the English language to intrigue and hook a reader.

I knew I was a writer; I wanted to be a writer, but I didn't know what to write.

Some writers would be kinder than others, I'm sure. Hopefully they might describe my techniques as a mixture of tried and tested formulas - if it aint broke don't fix it - and unexpected twists.

Somebody said writing is easy, you just sit down at your typewriter and open a vein. It depends on the book. Some, I have to do quite a lot of research, which I like. Others are much closer to me.

Neophyte writers tend to believe that there is something magical about ideas and that if they can just get a hold of a good one, then their futures are ensured.

I really write for people.

I just do the best I can and write something interesting, to tell stories in an interesting way and move forward from there.

Now I'm not an author, I'm a writer, that's all I am.

I might be into writing... I'd like to try it someday. I always come up with some good ideas.

I'm very interested in writing - it just takes so much discipline, whether it's short stories or novels.

I want to write more, because I think I've got a story to tell.

The writer can choose what he writes about but he cannot choose what he is able to make live.

I think some aspects of writing can be taught. Obviously, you can't teach vision or talent. But you can help with comfort.

I have heard of novels started in the middle, at the end, written in patches to be joined together later, but I have never felt the slightest desire to do this.

Other writers definitely influence my writing. What encourages me and inspires me is when I read a good book. It makes me want to be a better writer.

I think a man turns into a writer by editing his own texts.