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
“Forget talent. If you have it, fine. Use it” Octavia E. Butler, “Furor Scribendi” (1993), reprinted in Bloodchild and Other Stories (1995); advice to writers.
Can you use it?
Still under copyright. A short, credited quote is generally fine for talks, teaching, and internal decks; for commercial, published, or large-scale reuse, get permission.
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In context
Evoking the world of Octavia E. Butler — Speculative-fiction writer. Theme: "Forget talent. If you have it, fine. Use it". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
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Provenance
Forget talent. If you have it, fine. Use it.
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.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
Context
This passage does not advise writers to stop improving. Butler follows it with an argument that continuing to learn is more dependable than talent, and warns that persistence becomes harmful stubbornness when a writer refuses to revise unproductive habits.
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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 ‘Forget talent. If you have it, fine. Use it’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/forget-talent-if-you-have-it-fine-use-it/