Quotations We Love
Write What You Love!
Joe Ortiz teaches and writes award winning cookbooks. Award winning cookbooks? It’s not about the recipes. It’s the writing.
In his classes, Joe equates fiction and nonfiction as follows:
He says, “If fiction is a work of imagination, nonfiction is a work of information. Fiction depends on the interplay of characters and the tug of a story urging us to turn the page. Nonfiction relies on interesting facts built into a compelling argument. Nonfiction helps us re-codify old facts into new and revealing systems of thought and mold facts into a road map that will chart our future.
“And you’re going to say, ‘A cookbook to chart the future?’ But if you approach writing nonfiction with that kind of emotion and dedication, even a cookbook can become compelling.
Joe Ortiz wrote The Village Baker, The Village Baker’s Wife, The Gardener’s Table and Shakespeare on Golf.
Know Your Market!
Harry Houdini, the great magician, was a master of understanding his audience. Before going to a new town, he employed several other magicians to scout a city several days before a performance. In order to create a spectacular show, he needed to understand not only what his audience expected, but also their particular stories, what they would relate to. He then tailored his performance to match the expectations of his target audience.
Write it Well!
You can get away breaking all the other rules at least once in a while, but you can’t get away with breaking this one. Readers will accept almost anything from you if you don’t make them feel they have wasted their time and money.
Terry Brooks – Sometimes the Magic Works
Get Another Opinion
Groups offer, at their best, mutual encouragement, amicable competition, stimulating discussion, practice in criticism and support in difficulty. These are great things, and if you are able to and want to join a group, do so!
Ursula K. Le Guin – Steering the Craft