Top 13 Quotes & Sayings by Harry Turtledove

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American writer Harry Turtledove.

Last updated on April 20, 2025.

Harry Norman Turtledove is an American author who is best known for his work in the genres of alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and mystery fiction. He is a student of history and completed his Ph.D. in Byzantine history. His dissertation was on the period AD 565–582. He lives in Southern California.

American - Writer | Born: June 14, 1949

Source: Wikipedia

People you don't like are pigheaded. Your friends are stubborn, or hold to their purpose.

Harry Turtledove

I do first draft in longhand, which saves a lot of rewriting. I try to get a certain amount done each day. Don't always, but I try. Then I clean up in the rewrites.

Harry Turtledove

I learned by reading an awful lot and by writing a half a million words of stuff nobody would do anything with except wrap old fish.

Harry Turtledove

Many things are possible. Few things are certain.

Harry Turtledove

You count snouts,” Straha said. “Whichever side can persuade most snouts to join it prevails. It does not have to be clever. It does not have to be wise. It only needs to be popular.

Harry Turtledove

I'm a social caterpillar. I am not a social butterfly

Harry Turtledove

People were as they were, not not as he wished them to be.

Harry Turtledove

...Do you see things in black and white, or are there shades of gray for you?" "I hope there's gray...Black and white make things easier, but only if you don't want to think.

Harry Turtledove

Fiction has to be plausible. All history has to do is happen.

Harry Turtledove

Plausible development, building from what we know about what really did go on, and a whacking good story… Surrounded by Enemies delivers on both, big-time. So hold on to your hats, folks. You’re in for quite a ride.

Harry Turtledove

You can write better about a place you've seen for yourself. You don't have to have been there - I've sure written about places I've never seen - but it does help.

Harry Turtledove

I first tried a novel when I was 14. First finished one when I was 16. First started working on stuff that had a chance of being salable in my early 20s, then didn't write much fiction at all because I was in grad school.

Harry Turtledove

A horsefly can't do a horse much real damage, but it can drive it wild anyhow.

Harry Turtledove

Top 13 Quotes & Sayings by Harry Turtledove

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