Some advice from the experts (on writing)

Whenever I read my old writings, I realize how much I've improved. But no matter how good I get at it, there will always be a lot of space for getting even better. So here's some advice/ inspiration on the art of writing which I found interesting (note: I didn't comb the internet for these, all of it is what I've read in books xD). Some of these tips are quite amusing, others more thought-provoking, but all have of these have helped me understand writing better. I'm posting these here in the hope that fellow writers will find them equally helpful. :)

"Trying to write without reading is like venturing out to sea all by yourself in a small boat: lonely and dangerous. Wouldn't you rather wave to neighbouring vessels; admire their craftsmanship; cut in and out of the wakes that suit you, knowing that you'll leave a wake of your own, and that there's enough wind and sea for you all?" 

Téa Obreht

"There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."

W. Somerset Maugham

"You will reach for gaudy similes and tinseled adjectives, as if "style" were something you could buy at the style store and drape onto your words in bright decorator colors. (Decorator colors are the colors that decorators come in.) There is no style store; style is organic to the person doing the writing, as much a part of him as his hair, or, if he is bald, his lack of it."

William Zinsser (from his book On Writing Well)

"Don't let yourself slip and get any perfect characters...keep them people, people, people, and don't let them get to be symbols."

Ernest Hemingway

"In the end you should probably know your characters as well as you know yourself. Not only what they had for breakfast this morning, but what they wanted to have for breakfast. This little slice of literary bacon won't necessarily appear in your story, but you must know it all the same. In fact, the answer to just about any question at all should be on the tip of your tongue. Where was your character born? What is her first memory? What does her handwriting look like? How does she cross at traffic lights? Why is there a burn mark at the base of her forefinger? Why is that she limps? Why is there dirt under the fingernails? Where did the hip scar come from? Who would she vote for? What is the first item she shoplifted? What makes her happy? What terrifies her? What does she feel most guilty about? (You'd be amazed how many writers never ask these simple things of their characters.)"

Colum McCann (from his book Letters to a Young Writer - Some Practical and Philosophical Advice)

Eliminate every such fact that is a known attribute: don't tell us that the sea had waves and the sand was white."

William Zinsser (from his book On Writing Well)

"Read the greatest stuff, but read the stuff that isn't so great, too. Great stuff is very discouraging. If you read only Beckett and Chekhov, you'll go away and only deliver telegrams at Western Union."

Edward Albee

"A writer must realize that every name, fact, detail, title, date and source he inserts into his story is another item plopped into the reader's arms. If there are too many, the reader will be staggering about, like a skinny librarian with a stack of oversized books."

Francis Flaherty (from his book The Elements of Story)

"No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."

Samuel Beckett