Author Charles Wiegand
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charleswiegand.bsky.social
Author Charles Wiegand
@charleswiegand.bsky.social
1K followers 380 following 1.1K posts
Charles wrote "Heartbeats Across Borders" and many short stories, some have been published in many different journals/anthologies as well has his own two collections - "Daydreaming" and "Uncharted Realities". All three of his books are available on Amazon
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charleswiegand.bsky.social
“I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go into the library and read a good book.”
--Groucho Marx (1890-1977)
From Groucho’s piece “King Leer” (used to promote the TV debut of “You Bet Your Life”)

#life #love #art #coffee #diary #quotes #grouchomarx
“I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go into the library and read a good book.” ―Groucho Marx (1890-1977) From Groucho’s piece “King Leer” (a humorous article used to promote the TV debut of “You Bet Your Life”) #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #grouchomarx This is Groucho doing what he does best: using a throwaway gag to sneak in a real opinion. He’s not just dunking on TV; he’s contrasting passive consumption with active engagement. The punchline works because he frames television as “educational” only in the sense that it drives him back to books. The moment the set goes on, he exits the room and enters a different kind of mental space—one that requires imagination, attention, and participation. It sits nicely beside Eleanor Roosevelt’s warnings about TV and wasted leisure. Together they say: tools like television aren’t evil, but your default choice in your downtime shapes your mind. Groucho’s line invites a small act of rebellion - when the room fills with noise, go somewhere quieter and read. It’s funny, but it’s also a simple, sharp prescription for anyone who claims they “don’t have time” to read or write: maybe the time is hiding in front of the screen.
November 14, 2025 at 2:09 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
“When life is too easy for us, we must beware or we may not be ready to meet the blows which sooner or later come to everyone, rich or poor.”
--Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962)
From “My Day” (23 February 1940)

#writerslift #life #authors #love #coffee #diary #write #quotes #EleanorRoosevelt
“When life is too easy for us, we must beware or we may not be ready to meet the blows which sooner or later come to everyone, rich or poor.” --Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) From “My Day” (23 February 1940) #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #EleanorRoosevelt Roosevelt’s warning exemplifies pre-war grit. Comfort, she says, can be dangerous; it softens the edges that hardship inevitably tests. If life is too smooth, we grow complacent, unprepared for the setbacks that come to all people, regardless of wealth or privilege. Her tone isn’t moralizing but pragmatic: challenge builds readiness, and the absence of struggle breeds fragility. Eighty-plus years later, the line holds the same truth. Whether you’re a writer, a leader, or anyone facing an uncertain world, comfort can dull your edge. Roosevelt’s advice is to treat difficulty as preparation, not punishment, to meet small hardships now so the big ones don’t break you later. It’s classic Eleanor: realistic, unsentimental, and quietly empowering, a reminder that strength isn’t built in ease but forged in friction.
November 12, 2025 at 2:49 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
“A person can be lonely even if he is loved by many people, because he is still not the ‘One and Only’ to anyone.”
--Annelies Marie (Anne) Frank (1929–1945)
From The Diary of a Young Girl (1942 - 1944)
29 December 1943, Washington Square Press, English Ed.
“A person can be lonely even if he is loved by many people, because he is still not the ‘One and Only’ to anyone.” --Annelies Marie (Anne) Frank (1929–1945) From The Diary of a Young Girl (1942 - 1944) 29 December 1943, Washington Square Press, English Ed. #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #annefrankdiary “How lonely Granny must have been, how lonely in spite of us! A person can be lonely even if he is loved by many people, because he is still not the ‘One and Only’ to anyone.” In that entry, Anne is thinking about her late grandmother (“Granny”) and her childhood friend Lies. She imagines how lonely her grandmother must have been “in spite of us,” because no one ever really opened up to her, and then concludes that even being surrounded by love doesn’t guarantee that deep, singular bond we crave. That’s where the line comes from: she’s realizing that loneliness isn’t about the quantity of affection, but the absence of being someone’s “One and Only,” the person someone chooses as uniquely theirs. The reflection quickly turns back on Anne herself: she feels guilty for her own complaints when she thinks of what Lies and others are suffering outside the Annex, yet she also admits to fear, selfishness, and a lack of faith. The quote crystallizes a very adult insight emerging in a teenage girl: you can be loved and still feel emotionally unanchored. That tension between being surrounded and yet isolated is a core thread in her diary, and it’s why this line hits so hard for modern readers who know exactly what it feels like to be lonely in a crowded life.
November 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
“To ask a politician to lead us is to ask the tail of a dog to lead the dog.”
--Richard Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983)
From "The Designers and the Politicians" (1962)
And “Beyond Left & Right: Radical Thought for Our Times” (ed. Richard Kostelanetz, 1968, p. 368)
“To ask a politician to lead us is to ask the tail of a dog to lead the dog.” --Richard Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) From "The Designers and the Politicians" (1962) And “Beyond Left & Right: Radical Thought for Our Times” (ed. Richard Kostelanetz, 1968, p. 368) #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #buckminsterfuller Fuller’s metaphor attacks the idea of looking to conventional politicians (the “tail”) to guide society (the “dog”). He argues that politics is reactive, dealing with symptoms of human and systemic issues rather than proactively designing solutions. The “designer” in his paradigm is the one who thinks ahead, integrates systems, and builds frameworks that enable progress—rather than the elected official who typically steers from within the constraints of existing structures. Fuller’s worldview sees design science (anticipatory thinking, ecological consciousness, systems awareness) as the real leadership engine, rather than traditional political power. The message can also resonate beyond politics: don’t wait for leadership from the “wrong” place (institutions, people stuck in frameworks) if you’re aiming to shape future narratives or cultural norms. WhoFuller’s line prompts you to ask: who really leads the story? And if that leadership is weak, are you going to step in as designer, author of your own narrative, rather than wait for someone else to take the reins?
November 10, 2025 at 3:19 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
“The longer I live, the larger allowances I make for human infirmities. I exact more from myself, and less from others. Go thou and do likewise!”
--John Wesley (1703–1791)
In a letter to Reverend Samuel Furley (25 January 1762)

#writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #quotes #johnwesley
“The longer I live, the larger allowances I make for human infirmities. I exact more from myself, and less from others. Go thou and do likewise!” --John Wesley (1703–1791) In a letter to Reverend Samuel Furley (25 January 1762) #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #johnwesley Wesley’s reflection captures a hard-earned wisdom: the older we get, the clearer we see that human weakness isn’t a flaw in the system, it is the system. Life’s length teaches patience, compassion, and self-scrutiny. By “making larger allowances,” he means expanding empathy, tempering judgment, and recognizing that frailty, inconsistency, and error are part of the shared human condition. His counterbalance, “I exact more from myself,” signals that growth isn’t leniency but proportion: mercy outward, accountability inward. The final injunction, “Go thou, and do likewise,” turns observation into ethical command. Wesley wasn’t merely being introspective; he was instructing other ministers, and by extension, anyone in moral or creative work, to adopt the same discipline of humility. In modern terms: stop expecting perfection from others while excusing your own. It’s a timeless bit of spiritual psychology and leadership advice, as relevant to editors, teachers, and writers as it was to clergy.
November 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
“If the use of leisure time is confined to looking at TV for a few extra hours every day, we will deteriorate as a people.”
--Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962)
Wife of US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
From "My Day" (5 November 1958)
#writerslift #life #authors #love #coffee #diary #write
“If the use of leisure time is confined to looking at TV for a few extra hours every day, we will deteriorate as a people.” --Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) Wife of US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt From "My Day" (5 November 1958) #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #EleanorRoosevelt In this line, Eleanor Roosevelt argues that leisure isn’t simply “free time” to fill, it’s part of what shapes a society’s character. If that time is devoted primarily to passive consumption (like extended TV watching), rather than active engagement, learning, or creative growth, then the result is collective decline. She’s making a cultural warning: when people default to passivity in what could be meaningful downtime, they lose stamina, intellectual curiosity, civic participation, things vital to a healthy people. For writers, this applies both personally and professionally. On a personal level: how you spend your free time influences your creative resilience - if you’re mostly zoning out, your writer-brain atrophies. Professionally: you create when you engage deeply - reading, observing, thinking, playing with language - not when you just drift. Roosevelt’s warning, though about TV and a 1950s audience, maps neatly onto modern “easy distraction” culture. Use it as a prompt: guard your leisure time so it enlarges your mind rather than shrinks it.
November 8, 2025 at 3:07 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”
―Misattributed to Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
The quote first appeared in 1914 in "The Syracuse Herald" newspaper

#writerslift #life #books #amwriting #quotes #misattributed #abrahamlincoln #FrankCrane
“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” ―Misattributed to Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) The quote first appeared in 1914 in "The Syracuse Herald" newspaper #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #misattributed #abrahamlincoln #FrankCrane The line’s appeal is obvious: it reframes happiness as a deliberate practice rather than a passive result of circumstances. That’s motivational catnip, so it stuck, especially in self-help and newspaper columns of the early 20th century. But historically, it’s a misattribution: there’s no record of Lincoln writing or saying it, and its first documented print life is 1914, attributed to him by Crane, 50 years after Lincoln died. The earliest located appearance is in a New Year’s column by Dr. Frank Crane on January 1, 1914, in the Syracuse Herald: “Resolve to be happy. Remember Lincoln’s saying that ‘folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be.’” Crane repeated variants in later pieces (e.g., 1916 in The Boston Globe), and the line spread widely; Dale Carnegie echoed it in 1937. Quote sleuths have found no primary Lincoln source; it appears Crane popularized it as a Lincoln quote without evidence.
November 7, 2025 at 2:32 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
― Misattributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
No verifiable source exists

#writerslift #life #authors #books #amwriting #quotes #misattributed #ralphwaldoemerson #eecummings
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ― Misattributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) No verifiable source exists #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #misattributed #ralphwaldoemerson #eecummings The above statement emphasises the hard, courageous achievement of maintaining one’s authenticity amid constant external pressure to conform. In a culture that often tries to reshape us - through peer expectations, professional demands, social norms - the act of simply being ourselves becomes a significant accomplishment. This mirrors Emerson’s broader transcendental philosophy, even if the above statement is not a quote from him: self-reliance, inner voice, intuition over imitation. This statement is a strong reminder: your voice, your tone, and your unique viewpoints matter more than fitting any mold. Your stories are your self-expression. Staying true to them, even when the plot or industry or readers push otherwise, is in itself an accomplishment. Scholars and quote sleuths point out it’s likely conflated with E. E. Cummings’s famous line from “A Poet’s Advice”: “To be nobody-but-yourself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle…”
November 6, 2025 at 3:25 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us."
--Misattributed to Joseph Campbell (1904-1987)
No verifiable source can be found
Possibly a paraphrase of something he said

#writerslift #life #authors #write #books #quotes #josephcampbell #misattributed
"We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us." --Misattributed to Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) No verifiable source can be found Possibly a paraphrase of something he said #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #josephcampbell #misattributed The above sentiment speaks to the paradox of human intention vs. life’s unfolding. We spend years mapping out how we think our lives should go - career, relationships, where we’ll live, who we’ll be - and in that mapping, we often ignore that life also has a current of its own. The quote invites us to relinquish rigid adherence to our blueprint so we can open ourselves up to the unexpected: the opportunities, relationships, and transformations that were waiting for us, unseen. It’s not about abandoning goals but about releasing the straitjacket of “plan” when it becomes a barrier to what could be. The writing journey often resembles this truth. You plan the novel, the short-story collection, the perfect scene, the ideal arc, but then characters surprise you, plot pivots happen, voices shift, and something better or at least different emerges. To cling to the plan is to choke off the living possibility in your work.
November 5, 2025 at 1:35 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"Writing enlarges the landscape of the mind."
--Misattributed to V. S. Pritchett (1900-1997)
No verifiable source can be found

#writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #vspritchett #misattributed
"Writing enlarges the landscape of the mind." --Misattributed to V. S. Pritchett (1900-1997) No verifiable source can be found #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #vspritchett #misattributed Even if the attribution is shaky, the thought tracks with Pritchett’s critical sensibility: writing doesn’t just record what’s in your head; it widens what your head can hold. “Enlarges the landscape of the mind” captures how writing, drafting, and revising force you to notice patterns, test assumptions, and venture into mental territory you hadn’t mapped yet. The page isn’t a mirror; it’s a set of new rooms you build and then get to explore. Practically, that’s a nudge to keep writing if you want a bigger imaginative range, richer scenes, deeper motives, sharper judgment. The act itself grows your inner geography. So while a source to a specific line pointing to Pritchett can not be found in any of his writings/letters/essays/etc, it’s sound advice for authors: don’t wait for inspiration to expand your mind, write to expand it.
November 4, 2025 at 1:46 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"Yes. Growing up is highly overrated. Just be an author."
--Neil Gaiman (1960- )
From Tumblr, August 21, 2012

#writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #NeilGaiman
"Yes. Growing up is highly overrated. Just be an author." --Neil Gaiman (1960- ) From Tumblr, August 21, 2012 #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #NeilGaiman Gaiman’s quip does two things at once: it plays with the questioner’s “Am I insane?” and then flips the adult script. “Growing up,” in the conventional sense - sanding off imagination, playing it safe, doing the sensible thing - is overrated if your goal is to write. The line is permission to protect the part of you that daydreams, notices odd details, and follows wonder, because that’s the engine of authorship. It also functions as practical advice dressed as a joke: don’t wait to become the mythical “grown-up author” someday, be an author now by writing. The courage is in choosing the work today, not in earning adulthood’s gold star first. For writers drowning in “shoulds,” this is a reset: keep the playful mind, keep the pages coming. The rest is noise.
November 3, 2025 at 3:54 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"L’histoire est un roman dont le peuple est l’auteur.
History is a novel of which the people is the author.”
--Alfred de Vigny (1797-1863)
From “Cinq-Mars, ou Une conjuration sous Louis XIII”
3ᵉ édition (1827) Page 16
"L’histoire est un roman dont le peuple est l’auteur. History is a novel of which the people is the author.” --Alfred de Vigny (1797-1863) From “Cinq-Mars, ou Une conjuration sous Louis XIII” 3ᵉ édition (1827) Page 16 #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #AlfreddeVigny Vigny’s aphorism flips the usual power structure of history on its head: it isn’t just the kings, generals, or elites who “make history,” but collectively the people. By calling history a “novel” whose author is the people, he underscores that events gain meaning, continuity, and human dimension when the masses act, suffer, resist, and shape the world. The metaphor of “novel” also suggests narrative, character, drama, and moral conflict, not a dry chronological ledger of elites, but the lived experience of the crowd. The “people” aren’t passive background; they’re active authors of what becomes history. Pulling it into another lens - in our current age of social media, grassroots movements and digital communities - Vigny’s insight feels fresh: history isn’t confined to textbooks about “great men,” but rather is constantly written every day by people’s choices, responses and collective will.
November 2, 2025 at 3:16 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.”
— E. F. Schumacher (1911-1977)
From his book “Small is Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If People Mattered” (1973)
“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.” — E. F. Schumacher (1911-1977) From his book “Small is Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If People Mattered” (1973) #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #efshumacher The above idea (typically misattributed to Albert Einstein) encapsulated in the statement argues that complexity and expansion are easy paths; anyone (even a “fool”) can add layers, make systems bigger, and introduce more moving parts (or violence). But to scale down, refine, simplify, and humanize, those require greater insight, creativity, and courage. In the context of Schumacher’s economics, the quote underscored his critique of industrial‐scale growth and his promotion of “appropriate smaller scale technology,” smaller-scale solutions, and human-centered design. When thought about broadly: it’s a challenge to creators, thinkers, and leaders. Whether you’re writing a novel, designing a system, or building a community: piling on complexity might feel like progress, but real mastery shows when you strip away the surplus and go for elegance. That takes courage because you’re resisting the default “more is better” narrative.
November 1, 2025 at 2:36 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"Quotation is the highest compliment you can pay an author."
--Misattributed to Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
No verifiable source can be found

#writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #Anonymous
"Quotation is the highest compliment you can pay an author." --Misattributed to Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) No verifiable source can be found #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #Anonymous The above statement functions as a tribute to authorship and the power of words. It means that the writer created something memorable, and by quoting them, you affirm that creation. From this possibly nineteenth-century vantage, when authors depended on readers and reputation rather than clicks or shares, this kind of recognition was a tangible compliment: your words travel beyond your own pages; they live in other writers’ thoughts. This quote reminds us that quotes aren’t just casual reposts, they’re signals. When someone quotes you, they’re saying “your phrasing mattered, your voice reached me.” If you’re crafting short stories, novels, or scenes, your goal isn’t just to finish the book, it’s to deliver moments that others feel compelled to cite, to carry onward. That’s a unique compliment.
October 31, 2025 at 2:56 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"He used constantly to say that in our expenditure the item that costs most is time."
--Diogenes (413-323 BC)
The quote comes to us via Diogenes Laërtius, in his “Lives of the Eminent Philosophers" Book V chapter at §40.
"He used constantly to say that in our expenditure the item that costs most is time." --Diogenes (413-323 BC) The quote comes to us via Diogenes Laërtius, in his “Lives of the Eminent Philosophers" Book V chapter at §40. (Note: Many quote sites use a paraphrased version of the above translation. Above is the translation of the original Greek - συνεχές τε … πολυτελὲς ἀνάλωμα εἶναι τὸν χρόνον) #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #Theophrastus The "He" in the above quote is Theophrastus (c.371-287 BC). Theophrastus’s point is moral economics: among all the “expenses” of life, time is the most costly because it is finite, irrecoverable, and the very medium of every other choice. Placed in the Peripatetic (Aristotelian) frame he inherited, the saying nudges us to treat time as a scarce good that should be allocated toward worthwhile ends, character, study, friendship, and civic action, rather than squandered. The sting in the line is its bookkeeping metaphor: waste an hour and you’ve incurred the largest charge on your ledger. It sounds like it could be the source for, “Time is money,” but that exact phrasing shows up much much later. The earliest widely attested form is Benjamin Franklin’s 1748 essay "Advice to a Young Tradesman" (“Remember that Time is Money …”), which popularized the proverb in the Anglo-American world. Franklin’s line shares the spirit of Theophrastus but isn’t a direct quotation or clear derivation; it’s a parallel insight that ties time’s value specifically to economic productivity.
October 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."
--Misattributed to Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
No known source can be found

#writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #Anonymous
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." --Misattributed to Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) No known source can be found #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #Anonymous The above idea "quote" starts from a simple truth: children create freely, unburdened by the rules, self-doubt, or “that’s how it’s done” mentality. In their play and drawing and making, they’re artists without knowing the word. But as people grow up, things change, training, expectation, fear of judgement, responsibility, all creep in. So the “problem” pointed to is not about being born an artist, but staying one: keeping that freedom, curiosity, and willingness to make something new even when the adult world says “be serious,” “be sensible,” “be realistic.” It means remembering the child-artist inside you, and resisting the parts of adulthood that tell you “you should know this by now,” or “that’s not proper.” The quote challenges you to remain an artist, which means staying open, playful, risky, and expressive even when everything around you pushes the opposite.
October 29, 2025 at 4:09 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"But I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use..."
--Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
From "Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany" (1615)
Paragraph 9 in the English translation
"But I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use..." --Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) From "Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany" (1615) Paragraph 9 in the English translation #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #GalileoGalilei In writing to the Grand Duchess Christina, Galileo argues that human beings are endowed with faculties of sense, reason, and intellect, and that it would be inconsistent with divine intent to command us to abandon these gifts. His statement insists that faith and religion should not force the mind to neglect or deny the use of those faculties; rather, they should complement human inquiry, not suppress it. In this sense, Galileo makes a strong case for the compatibility of scientific investigation and religious belief. In today’s climate, especially in U.S. politics, his warning feels painfully relevant. Much of the division, extremism, and disinformation we see could not thrive if people insisted on using reason and intellect before parroting slogans or swallowing conspiracy theories. Galileo’s words remind us that the abdication of thought is a choice, and when a majority forgoes its faculties, the result is the kind of storm we’re living through now.
October 28, 2025 at 3:43 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"L’écriture est la peinture de la voix. --Writing is the painting of the voice."
--Voltaire (1694-1778)
From “Œuvres complètes de Voltaire” (OCV 42B:346; OCV 38:17) and
“Questions sur l’Encyclopédie” (article “Orthographe”)
#writerslift #authors #art #write #books #amwriting #quotes #voltaire
"L’écriture est la peinture de la voix. --Writing is the painting of the voice." --Voltaire (1694-1778) From “Œuvres complètes de Voltaire” (OCV 42B:346; OCV 38:17) and “Questions sur l’Encyclopédie” (article “Orthographe”) #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #voltaire Voltaire’s aphorism treats writing as a portrait of speech: the page should capture the living qualities of a voice, its clarity, intent, and cadence, rather than bury meaning under clumsy spelling or fussy style. In the "Questions sur l’Encyclopédie", that point sits inside a broader push to reform orthography so written language better serves understanding; for Voltaire, good writing is intelligible speech made visible. Read today, the line doubles as craft advice. If writing is the painting of a voice, then authenticity and precision matter more than ornament: choose words that carry your tone, cut what muddies it, and let readers “hear” you on the page. It’s a reminder to build prose that communicates cleanly and humanly, so the painted voice feels alive.
October 27, 2025 at 2:44 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
“Writing is hard—even for authors who do it all the time.”
--Roger Angell (1920-2022)
From his book “This Old Man: All in Pieces” (2015), page 18

#writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #RogerAngell
“Writing is hard—even for authors who do it all the time.” --Roger Angell (1920-2022) From his book “This Old Man: All in Pieces” (2015), page 18 #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #RogerAngell Roger Angell, a veteran writer and editor, underscores a truth many writers avoid admitting: writing remains difficult even when it becomes your profession. He notes that people often assume professionals “have it figured out” or that writing becomes effortless with practice. Instead, Angell points out that what “should be easy and flowing” often turns out “tangled or feeble or over-blown” and that this struggle persists regardless of experience. For anyone on social media lamenting writing as a hobby or career, complaining about it, bitching and moaning, the message is clear: writing isn’t just a fun pastime; it’s work, every time. If you’re consistently complaining about the process, maybe you’re doing something you don’t truly enjoy. Angell’s point gives you permission to treat writing with the seriousness it deserves - but also a reminder: if it’s always misery, perhaps pick a different outlet, because if you're complaining about it, you're obviously not enjoying it.
October 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"Love built on the surface fades with the surface.”
—Charles Wiegand (1959- )
From his upcoming book “Ritmo y Pasión”

#writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #charleswiegand
"Love built on the surface fades with the surface.” —Charles Wiegand (1959- ) From his upcoming book “Ritmo y Pasión” #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #charleswiegand Superficial love fades as quickly as the surface it’s built on. Superficial things bring only superficial love. When we anchor our hearts to shallow things, the happiness they bring us is just as fragile, vanishing the moment those things shift or disappear. Temporal things bring us only temporal love. Lasting happiness comes from what runs deeper: values, trust, and genuine connection. Build on those, and love has the strength to endure.
October 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"Obscurity is a far greater threat to authors and creative artists than piracy."
--Tim O'Reilly (1954- )
From a blog post in December 2002 titled “Piracy is progressive taxation...”

#writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #timoreilly
"Obscurity is a far greater threat to authors and creative artists than piracy." --Tim O'Reilly (1954- ) From a blog post in December 2002 titled “Piracy is progressive taxation...” #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #timoreilly Piracy may spook authors with the idea of lost sales, but the real monster under the bed is obscurity. If no one even knows your book exists, it doesn’t matter whether it’s pirated or protected; it’s unread, untouched, and invisible. Tim O’Reilly nailed it years ago: the greatest danger to writers isn’t theft, it’s being ignored. And in today’s publishing flood, where millions of new titles hit the market every year, that danger is bigger than ever. Craft, talent, and heart mean nothing if readers never discover your work. Visibility, not piracy, is the lifeline every author needs, because a story can’t make an impact until it’s actually read.
October 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him." (Paraphrased)
--Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)
From “Up from Slavery” (1901) in chapter 11

#writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #BookerTWashington
"I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him." (Paraphrased) --Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) From “Up from Slavery” (1901) in chapter 11 #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #BookerTWashington The actual quote from Booker T. Washington is this: "I would permit no man, no matter what his colour might be, to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him." That quote and the above paraphrased version common on the internet assert a powerful principle of personal freedom: no one has the right to compel you to hate, and by refusing that compulsion, you preserve your soul’s dignity. In the face of oppression and prejudice, Washington stakes a claim not only for survival but for moral agency; hate may be a tool of the oppressor, but it need not become your response. His statement emerges from his own journey as a formerly enslaved man, educator, and public figure navigating a racially hostile society, and it resonates as a refusal to let hatred define his identity. For writers (and anyone living with intention), the quote offers a craft lesson, too: our responses matter. What you allow others to do to your soul, your anger, your bitterness, shapes your narrative. Washington’s declaration suggests that maintaining grace under pressure is not passive; it’s active authorship of the self. Just as a writer chooses voice over reaction, Washington chooses dignity over degradation.
October 23, 2025 at 2:42 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
“Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills, and meaningless jargon.”
― William Zinsser (1922-2015 )
From “On Writing Well” 1976, Chapter 2
“Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills, and meaningless jargon.” ― William Zinsser (1922-2015 ) From “On Writing Well” 1976, Chapter 2 #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #williamzinsser In this part (in most editions - chapter 2) of "On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction," Zinsser argues that much of contemporary American prose suffers from what he calls “clutter”: needless words, inflated constructions, jargon, and complicated phrasing that don’t add meaning but distract or confuse the reader. He contends that writers too often think complexity and big words make them sound important, yet the opposite is true. Clear thinking begets clear writing, and if your sentences are heavy with filler words, then you haven’t fully understood what you’re trying to say. He follows this diagnosis with a prescription: ruthlessly prune your prose. Every word must pull its weight; long words when a short one will do, adverbs mirroring verbs, passive voice obscuring the actor, these are “weeds” to be removed. The goal is writing that is simple, direct, and human. The writer’s voice, not stylistic ornament, should carry the piece. In sum: clutter out, clarity in.
October 22, 2025 at 2:44 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
“If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.”
— George Orwell (1903-1950)
From "Politics and the English Language” 1946

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“If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.” — George Orwell (1903-1950) From "Politics and the English Language” 1946 #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #georgeorwell George Orwell's famous advice, “If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out,” is the third of his six rules for good writing. The essay itself is a sharp critique of the decline of the English language, which Orwell believed was being polluted by vagueness, clichés, and pretension. He argued that this bad writing wasn't just lazy; it was a serious political problem, as convoluted language was often used by politicians to hide the truth and make dishonest acts sound respectable. The greater context is that Orwell saw a direct link between clear language and clear thinking. By following rules of simplicity and conciseness, like cutting out extra words, a writer could resist the "contagion" of poor communication that he felt was spreading through public discourse. For Orwell, the fight for clear and honest prose wasn't just about style; it was a crucial step toward maintaining political integrity and intellectual freedom.
October 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM
charleswiegand.bsky.social
"Style is the stuff you can’t help doing because perfect technique would be completely without style. Stuff that lets everybody know that it’s you playing is the falling away from perfect technique.”
--Neil Gaiman (1960- )
From a 2002 interview at the Boskone convention
"Style is the stuff you can’t help doing because perfect technique would be completely without style. Stuff that lets everybody know that it’s you playing is the falling away from perfect technique.” --Neil Gaiman (1960- ) From a 2002 interview at the Boskone convention #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #NeilGaiman The idea behind the quote is spot-on: a writer's style isn’t just deliberate ornament or following rules; it often emerges from what the writer cannot avoid doing. The quirks: repeated turns of phrase, favorite words, particular rhythms, narrative choices, they’re like fingerprints. When you stop trying to be “correct” and let the natural way you think and tell a story shine, your style reveals itself. That means the writer’s voice isn’t built from a checklist of “good writing” rules; it comes from the writer’s unconscious habits, obsessions, and choices they keep returning to. If Gaiman’s point is true, the trick isn’t finding your style so much as recognizing what you already do, and embracing that.
October 19, 2025 at 1:37 PM