Many people are partial to the notion that . . . all writers are somehow mere vessels for Truth and Beauty when they compose. That we are not

Many people are partial to the notion that . . . all writers are somehow mere vessels for Truth and Beauty when they compose. That we are not really in control. This is a variation on that twee little fable that writers like to pass off on gullible readers, that a character can develop a will of his own and ‘take over a book.’ This makes writing sound supernatural and mysterious, like possession by faeries. The reality tends to involve a spare room, a pirated copy of MS Word, and a table bought on sale at Target. A character can no more take over your novel than an eggplant and a jar of cumin can take over your kitchen.

–
Paul Collins,

Sixpence House: Lost in a Town of Books

Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever and to whatever abysses

Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever and to whatever abysses nature leads, or you shall learn nothing. I have only begun to learn content and peace of mind since I have resolved at all risks to do this.

–
Thomas Henry Huxley,

Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley – Volume 1

At that moment, the urge to be writing was stronger than any notion she had of what she might write. – Ian McEwan,

At that moment, the urge to be writing was stronger than any notion she had of what she might write.

–
Ian McEwan,

Atonement

No living creature is naturally greedy, except from fear of want – or in the case of human beings, from vanity, the notion that you’re better

No living creature is naturally greedy, except from fear of want – or in the case of human beings, from vanity, the notion that you’re better than people if you can display more superfluous property than they can.

–
Thomas More,

Utopia