The Lesson (III) (2023)

Richard E. Grant: J.M. Sinclair

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Quotes 

• J.M. Sinclair : I know writers who obsess, "how do I say something original?" "Am I saying something unique?" I'm sorry, there are no new ideas. Most writers are reconciled to the fact - and, if they're not, they pretty soon will be.

• J.M. Sinclair : If I knew where the ideas came from, I'd have written and have, in deed, been paid a helluva lot more than I have. Bearing in mind that I've been prolific and not badly off. The short answer is: I don't know.

• J.M. Sinclair : Writers tend to say they're a morning person or an evening kind of writer. I don't subscribe to that. If you're writing, you're writing. It's as simple as that.

• J.M. Sinclair : It's not something that can be deferred or denied, if you have to do it. Which, by the way, is the prerequisite for writing. You don't have a choice in the matter. You *must* write.

• J.M. Sinclair : Music!

  Bertie Sinclair : We heard Rachmaninoff yesterday.

  J.M. Sinclair : Give me three good reasons not to lesson to him today and - I'll change my mind.

• J.M. Sinclair : Now, average writers attempt originality. They fail, universally. Good writers have the sense to follow from their betters. The greats - the great writers: steal.

• J.M. Sinclair : We should have a chat about the lesson. See how it went.

• J.M. Sinclair : Friends, family, there must be sacrifice. When you embark upon a novel and begin that communion with yourself, you are alone - armed only with your craft and, hopefully, your talent.

• J.M. Sinclair : We'll make a thief of you yet.

• J.M. Sinclair : If you're serious about doing this, you must bear one thought cheerfully in mind whenever you put pen to paper, whenever you read, eat, drink, *fuck*, whatever, one thought, one simple one: good writers - borrow.

• J.M. Sinclair : You signed the agreement. A great shame to break your bond now. I so loath dealing with lawyers.

• J.M. Sinclair : You seem to have misunderstood, Liam. We're not peers. You're a proofreader.

• J.M. Sinclair : Right here, right now, who owns my words?

• Liam Somers : That's years of work.

  J.M. Sinclair : Really? How frustrating. Then again, I'll never get back the hours I spent reading it. We needn't waste any more time.

• J.M. Sinclair : Words, I chose, because I believe they bore witness to a truth beyond fiction. Because, when strung together, they call unto a music only I can hear, resolve some conflict *raging* within me. Who owns them? They belong to whoever choses to read them. And since we are the words we write, so do we, finders fucking keepers.