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The Washington Post’s neologism contest winners.

December 2, 2019May 9, 2025 2081

I came across this today and broke up laughing. These are seriously clever! Thanks to the Washington Post. I wasn’t aware of their neologism contest, but I am now! Read and enjoy. Pass it along.

A true author, no matter the medium, is an artist with godlike knowledge of his subject, and the proof of his authorship is that his pages smack of authority.

Robert McKee

There are three primal urges in human beings: Food, sex, and rewriting someone else’s play.

Romulus Linney

Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade, just as painting does, or music. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself.

Truman Capote Quote

Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.

Robert A. Heinlein

What I loved most about calling myself a reporter was that it gave me an excuse to show up anyplace.

Jeanette Walls

I don’t care if a reader hates one of my stories, just as long as he finishes the book.

Roald Dahl

Work on a computer that is disconnected from the Internet.

Zadie Smith

A writer without interest or sympathy for the foibles of his fellow man is not conceivable as a writer.

Joseph Conrad

Read a thousand books and your words will flow like a river.

Lisa See

The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book.

Mickey Spillane

The character that lasts is an ordinary guy with some extraordinary qualities.

Raymond Chandler

I’m writing a book. I’ve got the page numbers done.

Stephen Wright

It always comes down to characters, and individual stories about courage.

Steven Bochco

It is only natural to pattern yourself after someone. But you can’t just copy someone. If you like someone’s work, the important thing is to be exposed to everything that person has been exposed to.

Bob Dylan

Editor: A person employed by a newspaper, whose business it is to separate the wheat from the chaff, and to see that the chaff is printed.

Elbert Hubbard

Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see any.

Orson Scott Card

Plot is, I think, the good writer’s last resort and the dullard’s first choice.

Stephen King

No writer has ever yet been known to hang himself as long as he had another chapter left.

Thomas Wolfe

Ever heard of a carpenter not going to work because he has “carpenter’s block”? If a writer can’t write, it’s because he doesn’t really want to, he isn’t ready to get it on paper or he’s just plain lazy.

Chet Cunningham

Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out.