Mary's TTP in 2014

When you hear the name Albert Einstein, what’s the first word that comes to mind? Genius, right? Einstein, the famous theoretical physicist, is undoubtedly a scientific genius. But his words and thoughts are helpful in the writing realm as well.

Because of his wisdom, many writers have been motivated to understand their real purpose. This inspires them, in turn, to improve upon their craft. Here are some thought-provoking quotes from Albert Einstein that can help you in pursuing your career as a writer.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Each of us has our own gift. The challenge is to figure out what “genius” waits within you. Many novice writers take a different road than the one they’re destined for, striving to embody someone else’s form of genius. When they fail, they wind up walking that same path again rather than embracing their authentic genius.

What is Einstein implying here? Identify what your real talent is; discover your uniqueness; know your real purpose in the writing world; push yourself to establish a career that fits your character and passion. Understand what you really love writing about and you will realize your personal brand of genius.

“Paper is to write things down that we need to remember. Our brains are used to think.”

The genius already said it: use the tools (pen and paper) to write down your notes, ideas, phrases, etc. Then your brain can get back to creating.

“The important thing is not to stop questioning… Never lose a holy curiosity.”

Most intellectuals are curious people. Curiosity leads to discovery. Just look at the curious character of Einstein. If he didn’t ask questions and actively search for answers there would be no theory of general relativity. Writers should always be curious. Without curiosity, you might not recognize a great idea that’s standing right in front of you.

“The most precious things in life are not those you get for money.”

Yes, money helps you meet your daily needs, but it can’t give you fulfillment and joy in the truest sense. For successful writers, interesting and well-written stories are more precious than gold. If you only write for money, you have the wrong motivation, my dear. Write for the joy and fulfillment.

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”

Failure is part of the learning process. If you never fail you’ll never understand the full meaning of success. Trying something new in your work is the best way to improve as a writer. If you’re afraid to take risks and make mistakes you’ll never get better. So try something out of the ordinary. Get out of your comfort zone.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Einstein believed that an active imagination was the key to solving any problem. Writers are most fueled by the writing process when their imaginations are fully engaged. The reason why imagination is more important than knowledge is because it’s limitless. It can move you beyond observed reality and allows you to create new worlds. Use your imagination to create brilliant written works. Use your imagination to engage people. Use your imagination to become a better writer.

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

I cannot agree more with this statement. Don’t keep repeating things that aren’t working for you (unless you’re seeing incremental improvements). Why continue with your usual writing habits or following the same strategies if you’re getting the same bad results? For you to succeed in your craft, you must know when to stop and how to adapt.