Who really said it
Octavia E. Butler gives this advice in “Furor Scribendi,” published in Writers of the Future IX (1993) and reprinted in Bloodchild and Other Stories (1995).
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For presentations
Verified quote & credit
“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable” Octavia E. Butler, “Furor Scribendi” (1993), reprinted in Bloodchild and Other Stories (1995); advice to writers.
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Provenance
First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable.
Essay excerpt with permission noticeHow we verified this
The teaching excerpt expressly credits Butler copyright and reproduction permission from the publisher’s representative. That permission applies to that reproduction; this page uses only a short identifying excerpt.
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Context
Butler’s advice asks aspiring writers to build repeatable work habits instead of waiting for a special creative mood. The surrounding essay recommends reading, workshops, daily writing and revision, making persistence a practice that can be learned.
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Reproduces the actual Furor Scribendi paragraphs, including both inspiration and talent advice, with Butler copyright and Seven Stories permission credit.
Traces the essay to Writers of the Future IX (1993), reprinted in Bloodchild (1995), p. 141, verified there with scans.
Official publisher identifies the collection and quotes the inspiration passage from Furor Scribendi.
Catalog identifies Butler’s Furor Scribendi draft, ca. 1993, call number OEB 775; metadata only, not a digitized reading of the draft.
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The author
For writers & researchers
Butler, Octavia E. “Furor Scribendi.” Writers of the Future IX, 1993; reprinted in Bloodchild and Other Stories, 1995, p. 141 (edition citation documented by Quote Investigator).
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/first-forget-inspiration-habit-is-more-dependable/