Writing is a beautiful, messy, maddening experience. Those who subject themselves to the title of "Writer" face creative blocks, harsh editors and the ever present fear of failure and rejection. So how does one stay strong through the writing process? Thankfully, there are predecessors just as crazy as you who have written beautiful pieces. These writers faced immense struggles and persevered. Their writing and lifestyles refelct this human urge to survive, record memories and create. These five quotes from seasoned writers will educate and inspire you as you put your pen to paper and take off on an intellect and spiritual journey.

1. “I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.”

― Anne Frank

Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who hid in a "secret annex" during WWII. She found solace in her diary and aspired to be a world-renowned author, which she now is. This profound young woman perfectly described the release and inspiration the writing process can lend a person. You can escape monotonous realities or overwhelming hardships, if even just for one, effervescent moment with a pen. Writing also can give you the courage to step back, analyze your life, and live it better. People get stuck in the same old world views. Writing makes the extraordinary seem possible.

2. "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."

―Benjamin Franklin

My personal favorite, this quote contains precious wisdom. Authentic writing that pulls heartstrings and opens minds comes from life experiences and lessons that authors transfer to the page. The more generic quote is "write what you know" and this cliche functions for important reasons (Also, us grammar nerds will appreciate this sick, poignant parallelism). Writing derived from experience is more authentic, and can impact similar individuals. Plus it is cathartic to write about. What story can YOU tell? Ben Franklin was an interesting and innovate individual who changed lives with his prose, invention and social wit. Go forth and lead an interesting life and let others learn from it!

3. "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."

― Ernest Hemingway

While the first sentence is most likely included for irony, I believe humans do feel an innate call to record their fleeting thoughts and feelings. In that instinctive, human sense writing is nothing. But pouring your heart and soul out of a paper? Reliving and creating new, horrible moments? Combing through each sentence and cutting lines you loved, but don't work? The long hours of compulsive writing, the dreadful hours staring at a blank sheet. The way your fingers cramp and your soul is exhausted, but you finish the passage? The fear you are shouting your soul's contents into the void merely for them to be accosted by an angry red pen? That is bleeding.

4. “One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.”

― Jack Kerouac

Kerouac hit the intellectual gold pot with this quote. Purple prose stock full of properly placed semi colons and complex thoughts might impress your College Writing professor, but it will not strike your reader. Great writing is concise. Sharp, meaningful phrases stick with the reader in an inspiring way.

5. “If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”

―Stephen King

In order to learn to speak, you must listen to your parents. To master a job, you break your back as an intern to learn the ropes. Reading, in regards to authorship, is no different. Get acquainted with your craft in all its forms, even if some genres don't appeal to you. You could enjoy the book and subconsciously pick up tools of the trade, or hate it and conciously detirmine what works and what doesn't. Either way, you have valuable experience.