When I was 7, my proudest possession would have been my bookshelf - 'cause I'd alphabetized all of the books on my bookshelf. Neil Gaiman More Quotes by Neil Gaiman More Quotes From Neil Gaiman A story only matters, I suspect, to the extent that the people in the story change. Neil Gaiman matter stories people We have an obligation to make things beautiful. Not to leave the world uglier than we found it, not to empty the oceans, not to leave our problems for the next generation. Neil Gaiman generations ocean beautiful We do not always remember the things that do no credit to us. We justify them, cover them in bright lies or with the thick dust of forgetfulness. Neil Gaiman credit dust lying And did I pass?" The face of the old woman on my right was unreadable in the gathering dusk. On my left the younger woman said, "You don't pass or fail at being a person, dear. Neil Gaiman failing gathering faces The main rule of writing is that if you do it with enough assurance and confidence, you’re allowed to do whatever you like. (That may be a rule for life as well as for writing. But it’s definitely true for writing.) So write your story as it needs to be written. Write it honestly, and tell it as best you can. I’m not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter. Neil Gaiman stories writing needs I started blogging a decade ago because I like blogging. Writing's a kind of lonely thing to do and I liked the idea of demystifying the process because I loved it as a kid and teenager and as somebody who wanted desperately to write. Neil Gaiman teenager lonely writing There was once a young man who wished to gain his Heart’s Desire. Neil Gaiman desire heart men I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful. Neil Gaiman kissing book thinking The price of getting what you want, is getting what once you wanted. Neil Gaiman sandman getting-what-you-want wanted Black as night, sweet as sin. Neil Gaiman coffee sweet night I don't just randomly kill people... I kill people when it's funny. Neil Gaiman people There's nothing for getting you good fast like having to be good fast, if that makes any sense. Neil Gaiman be-good ifs Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them. And it's much cheaper to buy somebody a book than it is to buy them the whole world! Neil Gaiman cheaper book world Sometimes I wish that just solving the plot problems was enough. And then elves would go and do all the actual work moving the words around. Neil Gaiman plot wish moving There's never been a true war that wasn't fought between two sets of people who were certain they were in the right. The really dangerous people believe they are doing whatever they are doing solely and only because it is without question the right thing to do. And that is what makes them dangerous. Neil Gaiman humility war believe Because, if one is writing novels today, concentrating on the beauty of the prose is right up there with concentrating on your semi-colons, for wasted effort. Neil Gaiman effort writing today First rule of magic: Don't let anyone know your real name. Names have power. Neil Gaiman magic real names If you cared enough about your characters, what happened to them was interesting... it's important to care about them, about who they are and what they do...I don't really care whose side they are on, and they can be monstrous on the outside or, worse, on the inside, but you still have to want to spend time with them. Neil Gaiman important character interesting Then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life... You give them a piece of you. They don't ask for it. They do something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Neil Gaiman smile love life Call no man happy, said Shadow, until he is dead Neil Gaiman american-gods shadow men
