Creating Quotes

How I go about creating quotes

I have had a few of questions asking how I started creating my own quotes hence this short article.

I searched online for travel related quotes as I began my travels and was so inspired that before I knew it, I had read through hundreds. The more I read, the more I collected, within a few days without realizing it, I had amassed over 50 quotes. I decided to turn these into three separate articles for this website.

Something magical happened during that process. While many quotes we often hear are from famous people, there were more names, I had never heard of. I then realized I could create my own.

My first would reflect my new journey in life, backpacking and travelling around the world. I jotted down a few words into a note app on my smartphone. That was the start, every time I opened the app, I would either add words or do a quick edit, this often happened while out in bars and restaurants and was a random rather than pre-planned process.

Over the course of about two months, my first quote began to take shape as I edited and shuffled around words, it began to make sense.

Navigating the world liberates the mind, the heart set free by souls met along the way.Ugo Domizioli

I am most proud my first born, as it took a long time to perfect, but also inspired me to think of creating two more quotes, one for each of my three quote articles: Volume I, Volume II and Volume III.

Many of my quotes were formulated here in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico as I went on my 2-3 hour morning walks on the beach while simply noticing nature around me. The sea and its waves, the shape and motion of the clouds, my footprints and those of others, the palm trees and how they swayed in synchronisation, the different types of birds and how they flew, rested and came together as a flock. When we look closely and switch off and let nature do its thing, there is so much to see. By exploring the beauty of nature, it often inspires us to think and ponder about life.

I hate to use the word mindful, but that's what occurred to me by accident as I paid attention to what was going on around me, noticing the big, but more importantly, little things. As most of the time I was without my smartphone, I would have to remember the words and once I got back to my studio apartment quickly get them into my phone.

A smarter option, is to carry your smartphone and either create a voice memo or better yet, use your voice to dictate straight to text. The point is to make sure you get the initial words down but never qualify them as to whether they are good or bad ones, as essentially you are at the beginning process of creating a new idea.

It is unlikely that you will arrive at a great quote when you start with either a word or a few words or part sentence, it will come with time, just like a good wine or matured cheese.

A few tips:

• Wonder without a goal, take a walk or hike just because
• Notice what is going on all around you
• Get your words down quickly without qualification
• Take chances with words and structure
• Less is more, quotes tend to be short, use fewer words: reduce, reduce, reduce
• Choose normal words over fancy ones
• Aim to use an active tone: "I had an amazing time"
• Aim to use nouns: truth, hope, love
• Aim to use verbs: lead, start, win
• Ensure your quotes are not contradictory
• A quote has no time frame, take time to develop it

One of the great things about any form of creative writing, whether a quote, poem, short story, online article or even a book, you do not ever need anyone's permission or money to get started. You only need a tiny thought, idea or a few words and off you go. Remember, it's your quote.....no one else's, don't ever worry that it isn't a work of art, for it's your work of art, we do not need validation from others.

Writing a book will obviously be much harder than a writing a quote. There will be hurdles on your journey, remember, it is a journey, not a destination. Keep writing, editing and re-writing and don't quit as you will leave behind a piece of yourself on this planet which may inspire others.

A 100-year old quote by a dead person is no more valid than a brand new original one by yourself.

I believe quotes are important as they are often inspirational and give the reader a different perspective together with offering a glimpse into the writer's mind.

My latest creation number 6 of 80 can be found on my dedicated quotes website: around the world with 80 quotes

All you need to know is inside the tear edging down your cheek.Ugo Domizioli