Quotes about Writing: Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Copy of n by emma ugarelli

​“Easy reading is damn hard writing.”
— Nathaniel Hawthorne
Why can we say that?
Because writing something that captures a reader’s interest takes much more than putting words on a page. When we write, we often put a piece of ourselves into those words—our soul, our thoughts, our fears, our memories, and even our sadness. In a way, writing means opening a door into ourselves and allowing others to see a part of who we are.
To create something compelling and easy to read, we have to make many choices. We think about the words, the rhythm, the ideas, and the way the story will reach the reader. What may seem simple and effortless on the page can represent hours of thinking, changing, removing, and rewriting.
This is especially true with children's books.
A children's story may appear simple. The sentences may be short, the vocabulary familiar, and the characters imaginary. But behind those simple words is often a whole world carefully created by the author.
A talking animal, a curious child, or an imaginary adventure can carry pieces of the writer's own world. Through fictional characters, we can express our thoughts about friendship, courage, kindness, fear, loneliness, love, or the world around us. We create imaginary worlds, but within those worlds, we often leave something real from ourselves.
That is why easy reading can be so hard writing.
The reader should be able to enter the story naturally, without seeing all the work behind it. The words should feel effortless, but creating that feeling requires intention, patience, and a willingness to keep refining what we have written.
Perhaps the greatest compliment a writer can receive is when someone says, “I couldn't put it down.”
Because behind those effortless pages, there may be a little piece of the writer's soul.