Robert Frost: 5 Quotes for Writers

Life lessons and thoughts on the craft of writing

Photo by Simon Matzinger on Unsplash

№01

“A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness.”
― Robert Frost

It’s kind of a strange feeling, isn’t it? The first time a poem shows up, it feels a little bit familiar, a little bit strange.

Robert Frost captured the essence of this feeling brilliantly with this quote. It’s a mixture of many feelings and it’s in those feelings that the poem unfolds before us. Sometimes all at once and sometimes at its own slow, and careful pace.

The thing isn’t to try and control it. But to be ready when we recognize it happening. We are partners with the work we are creating, and stewards of that work as we bring it to our readers. Keep that in mind and you’ll go far.

№02

“Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.”
― Robert Frost

This should be a universal truth, but it’s so danged hard to hear and accept that its own truth might get in its way. The really important question to ask yourself here is, which one are you?

Let’s be honest with one another here, we’ve each played one role or another over the course of our lives. The real magic of this quote isn’t just in its whit, but in the way, it resonates with you.

If you’re someone who has something to say but aren’t saying it, ask yourself what’s holding you back and why? What can you do to change that?

And if the opposite is true and you’re someone who is a more active communicator (see how nicely I said that?) maybe the trick is to learn how to be more mindful and present. Maybe your power is in learning how to yield some power back to others?

№03

“I am not a teacher, but an awakener.”
― Robert Frost

Oh, I love this one!

What this means to me is that it isn’t enough to just teach. Anyone can share facts and statistics. If you want to truly empower your readers, figure out how to wake them up.