Author Birthday – 3 November – Charles Martin

Happy Birthday, Charles Martin, born on 3 November 1969.

Charles Martin Quotes

1. Writing is a lot like life, 90% of the job is showing up – day after day after day. Rejection after rejection after rejection. My first book was rejected 86 times. (I still have the letters.)
2. Don’t make it more complicated than it has to be. Don’t use 8 words when 2 will do. And better.
3. Don’t say the same thing two or three times. We heard you the first. I often do this with repetitive sentences. As in, two or three sentences in a row will hammer the same point. Less is more.
4. Give the reader credit – for understanding what you’re saying. They can fill in some of the blanks.
5. Read it out loud. Read it out loud. Read it out loud. Read it out loud. (What your eye misses, your ear will pick up. This is THE BEST advice I’ve ever been given about writing. If it’s good enough for Michener, it’s good enough for you and me.)
6. Kill your passive verbs. Only resurrect them if nothing else will do. I live and die with my verbs. They are my scaffolding. Framework. Everything else builds up from there. Weak verbs = weak prose.
7. Tell the truth. Especially in fiction. If you don’t believe it, neither will we.
8. Cut. Cut. Cut. Nothing is sacred. When it comes to words, you can always rewrite. You’re not Shakespeare, not Milton, not Name-your-icon. Neither am I.
9. Writer’s block is real. I didn’t used to believe this. Then ‘it’ happened. There are two types of medicine I recommend. First, push back, turn off the computer, and take a hike. Get lost. Go do something else. Second, plant your butt in that seat and write. Write something. Write anything. Sweat. Cuss. Drink coffee by the pot. Potato chips if you have to. Chocolate if you need it.
10. If I’ve done anything well in my career, I’ve shown up. Put my seat in the seat. Week after week. Year after year. Decade after decade. I sweat my books more than I write them and I’m a better rewriter than I am a writer. I also know that I remain grateful that I get to do what I get to do.

Source for quotes 1-9: Charles Martin’s Rules For Writers and 10: Writers Digest

Charles Martin is an American writer. He writes contemporary and historical fiction, blending romance, Christian fiction, family drama, and suspense. His work explores love, grief, sacrifice, and the power of relationships to help people overcome hardship. He is a New York Times bestselling author of 18 novels including The Mountain Between Us and Where the River Ends. His latest novel is The Keeper, which is book four in the Murphy Shepherd series. His memoir is titled River Road. He also writes non-fiction. Follow him on Instagram and click here if you want to read his advice on getting published.

Source for Image: Author’s Website

by Amanda Patterson
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