Literary Birthday – 12 August – Sue Monk Kidd

Happy Birthday, Sue Monk Kidd, born on 12 August 1948.

Sue Monk Kidd Quotes

1. I think so much of writing is about the courage to express ourselves, to be true to our own voice, to find our vision, our voice, and put it out there. Also, allow yourself to write badly in the beginning. That’s good tried and true advice. And then let it evolve as you rewrite.
2. A novel’s true and lasting worth is found in its ability to open the human heart.
3. I rewrite as I go. It’s a slower process, but somehow that works best for me. I allow myself to rewrite and rewrite and rewrite a chapter, and then I have a certain moment when I realise that yes, now, it’s exactly like I want it to be, and I can go on.
4. My novels usually start with two questions: ‘Who is my character?’ ‘What does my character want?‘ The whole story will flow out of the answers I’m able to bring to those two questions.
5. I’m pretty dogged and methodical and slow. I let an idea incubate for a while – as I said, I play with it – but when I start writing, I keep banker’s hours. I work every day, immersed in the whole thing, really working with my craft in a disciplined way but allowing for spontaneous, mysterious inspiration to come.
6. Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here.

Read: Sue Monk Kidd’s 10 Most Helpful Writing Tips

Sue Monk Kidd is a writer from the Southern United States. She writes historical and literary fiction, as well as memoirs. She is perhaps best known for her novel, The Secret Life of Bees. An award-winning and international bestselling author, Kidd also wrote The Invention of Wings, The Mermaid Chair, The Book of Longings, as well as several acclaimed memoirs, including Traveling with Pomegranates, and The Dance of the Dissident Daughter. Her new book, Writing, Creativity and Soul was released in 2025 and became an instant national bestseller. Follow her on Twitter: @suemonkkidd and Facebook and read more at Sue Monk Kidd’s Website

Source for quotes
Image Source: Press Photo

by Amanda Patterson
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