"In fact, one could argue that the skill of the fiction writer boils down to the ability to exploit intensity."
"The thing I do at the beginning is a "voice journal," a free form doc that is the character speaking to me. I just work on it until I start to hear different from my own, or the other characters."
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More quotes by James Scott Bell
"Characters who are absolutely sure about what they do, who plunge ahead without fear, are not that interesting. We don’t go through life that way. In reality, we have doubts just like everyone else. Bringing your Lead’s doubts to the surface in your plot pulls the reader deeper into the story, and this is an excellent way to coax the reader to lose himself in the story world you’re about to create."
"Structure is translation software for your imagination."
"Every hour you spend writing is an hour you don't spend worrying about your writing."
"The most important rule: Do not, I repeat, do not censor yourself in any way. Leave your editorial mind out of the loop. Just let the ideas come pouring out in any way, shape, or form they want to. Do not judge anything."
"Status, worry and comparison are ways to madness, not victory."