Alistair Maclean Quotes

I'm very happy with the way I write. I think I do it good. But I've never really considered myself a writer.

I find writing really difficult - definitely the most difficult of all the things I do.

Writing has taught me a lot - though far from everything - about writing, so as time has passed, it has become more pleasurable if not easier. I've done other things in life, but writing is by a factor of 10 the most difficult among them. And, of course, you never achieve what you set out to achieve, so you must keep on trying to do better.

The easiest thing to do on earth is not write.

Writing has got to be some of the hardest work I know.

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.

All experience helps when you write.

I mean, the problem is, I think I'm a great writer.

I never thought of myself as a writer.

It is really important that focusing on things such as spelling, punctuation, grammar and handwriting doesn't inhibit the creative flow. When I was at school there was a huge focus on copying and testing and it put me off words and stories for years.

There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.

All my books were easy to write - doesn't it show?

I had never written anything before in my life except maybe in high school when I wrote a short story, and my mother had to put an ending on that.

Yeah, writers do hate writing.

I have learned many things in the 30 years that I have been writing.

You know, writing is really difficult, and it takes a real patience and a skill. I don't know if I have that. I admire it in others, so much, and I envy it.

I don't know how I do it, but I've written about everything. I've written about my shoes.

I dabbled in writing, wrote really bad poetry in high school. I also took a few writing classes when I was an undergrad at Stanford. I was so intimidated.

I really hate to write.

I wrote all the time, and I had teachers who encouraged it.

I don't think I'm a brilliant writer, but I'm a good writer, and it's just so empowering to get involved.

I have always found writing very difficult.

As an observer, I'm analysing my reactions, I guess, and my thinking; but about the process of writing... I am not very talented at talking about what I do as a writer.

I can't emphasize enough how much of a writer I am.

I think anyone can write about anything that they have knowledge of and exposure to.