James Frey Quotes

My father went to work every day, and it's my job to go to work, too. Some days will be good, some won't be so good, but I have to go to work.

The first rule of doing work that matters: Go to work on a regular basis.

A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do his job when he does feel like it.

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 we may be said to like it.

A professional is someone who can do his best work when he doesn't feel like it.

Everybody has a job to do, and you just know that every day you have to do what it takes to get there. Of course, everybody has those days where you don't feel like doing it. I'm just like anybody else in that respect. But there's a difference between not feeling like doing it and not doing it period.

Here's the bottom line; writers write. Sometimes words flow easily. Sometimes it's like sloughing through mud. Either way a professional writer keeps writing.

We’re all pros already. 1) We show up every day 2) We show up no matter what 3) We stay on the job all day 4) We are committed over the long haul 5) The stakes for us are high and real 6) We accept remuneration for our labor 7) We do not overidentify with our jobs 8 ) We master the technique of our jobs 9) We have a sense of humor about our jobs 10) We receive praise or blame in the real world

If you can focus the energy into something valuable, put that into work ethic.

Writing is grunt work - you need to have self-motivation, perseverance, and faith... talent is the smallest part of it.

There's a great quote by Julius Irving that went, 'Being a professional is doing the things you love to do, on the days you don't feel like doing them.'

Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.

I know writers who write only when inspiration comes. How would Isaac Stern play if he played the violin only when he felt like it? He would be lousy.

Being a professional means doing your job on the days you don't want to do it

Every day is a work day, and I have to work my ass off just as much as any other guy, doing whatever job they're doing. I believe in commitment and hard work, and hopefully, after that, success comes.

When you're a professional you gotta do it [your job] when you don't feel like doing it.

The one ironclad rule is that I have to try. I have to walk into my writing room and pick up my pen every weekday morning.

And where I excel is ridiculous, sickening, work ethic. You know, while the other guy's sleeping? I'm working.

I have a strong work ethic.

I don't work with inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs. I just get to work.

I would never not work.

I have a good work ethic.

I'm always trying. Between every book, I think, 'Well now, it's time to get down to the serious stuff.'

I know only one way: work hard.

Without pressure, I'm not going to wake up every day to go work, or do extra shooting, or lifting.