What I Wish All Writers Knew About Using Quotes

How quoting other people can hold your writing back, and what to do about it

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Recently, I read a passage from someone working in psychology which said, “Every time I want to make a point, my brain immediately asks, ‘Is there a widely-cited, randomized controlled test study to support that?’” If there wasn’t, they would decide not to pursue the idea any further.

I can relate, all too well. This particular anecdote had been bouncing around in my mind for the past few days, and I’ve spent time searching for it to no avail. I start searching, thinking to myself, “Maybe it was in one of the books I’d read on Kindle, or a tweet.” I spend precious time looking for it, only to come to acceptance that I’ve lost it.

This used to be a deal breaker for me. In the past, I would resign the idea the same way the author of the introductory passage would. After all, nobody wants to sound like this guy:

I’ve literally spent hours — through a span of days, weeks, or even years — often looking for “that perfect quote that this prominent person said,” or “that study that I thought described this situation.” I shake my head as I write that. Too much time searching, too little writing.

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