Quotes by Novelists

My decision to start a new one is just that, a decision, since I never get inspirations. Anne Tyler

Decision Inspirations Never Since New New One Get Just Start

If I waited till I felt like writing, I'd never write at all. Anne Tyler

Writing Write Never Like Felt Till Waited

I'll write maybe one long paragraph describing the events, then a page or two breaking the events into chapters, and then reams of pages delving into my characters. After that, I'm ready to begin. Anne Tyler

Events Long Chapters Characters Paragraph Write Delving Ready Begin Maybe After Breaking Then Page Pages Describing Two

I don't want to say I hear voices; well, actually I do hear voices, but I don't think it's supernatural. I think it's just that when characters are given enough texture and backbone, then lo and behold, they stand on their own. Anne Tyler

Own Think Enough Backbone Say Characters Given Supernatural Voices Well Hear Texture Behold Just Want Then Stand Actually

For me, writing something down was the only road out. Anne Tyler

Me Writing Down Out Something Only Road

When I read, I'm purely a reader. Anne Tyler

Purely Read Reader

The hardest novel to write was Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. Anne Tyler

Dinner Restaurant Write Novel Homesick Hardest

She worded it a bit strongly, but I do find myself more and more struck by the differences between the sexes. To put it another way: All marriages are mixed marriages. Anne Tyler

Myself Differences Way Bit Marriages Sexes Find Strongly Struck More More And More Put Between She Another Another Way Mixed

My writing day has grown shorter as I've aged, although it seems to produce the same number of pages. Anne Tyler

Day Writing Seems Although Same Aged Produce Pages Grown Number

I've always enjoyed studying the small clues that indicate a particular class level. Anne Tyler

Class Indicate Small Studying Particular Always Clues Enjoyed Level

I think it must be very hard to be one of the new young writers who are urged to put themselves forward when it may be the last thing on earth they'd be good at. Anne Tyler

Good Young Think Earth Must Writers Put New Very May Urged Young Writers Themselves Hard Who Forward Thing Last

I forget a book as soon as I finish writing it, which is not always a good thing. Anne Tyler

Good Book Writing Finish Good Thing Soon Always Forget Which Thing

I didn't really choose to write; I more or less fell into it. Anne Tyler

More More Or Less Write Fell Really Choose Less

I consciously try to end my novels at a point where I won't have to wonder about my characters ever again. Anne Tyler

Try Characters About Point End Wonder Where Again Novels Ever

I can never tell ahead of time which book will give me trouble - some balk every step of the way, others seem to write themselves - but certainly the mechanics of writing, finding the time and the psychic space, are easier now that my children are grown. Anne Tyler

Time Me Book Writing Space Psychic Will Trouble Every Every Step Others Way Easier Tell Finding Some Seem Give Give Me Write Never Step Balk Children Which Themselves Certainly Mechanics Grown Now

At most I'll spend three or four hours daily, sometimes less. Anne Tyler

Daily Sometimes Three Spend Hours Most Less Four

My family can always tell when I'm well into a novel because the meals get very crummy. Anne Tyler

Family Tell Crummy Well Because Always Very Get Meals Novel

It seems to me that since I've had children, I've grown richer and deeper. They may have slowed down my writing for a while, but when I did write, I had more of a self to speak from. Anne Tyler

Me Writing Speak Down Seems More Write Self Had Since Did May Children While Richer Grown Deeper

Americans will listen, but they do not care to read. War and Peace must wait for the leisure of retirement, which never really comes: meanwhile it helps to furnish the living room. Anthony Burgess

The possession of a book becomes a substitute for reading it. Anthony Burgess

Book Reading Possession Becomes Substitute

The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent, experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it, if it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. Anthony Burgess

To write is to become disinterested. There is a certain renunciation in art. Anthony Burgess

Art Become Write Renunciation Disinterested Certain

The unconscious mind has a habit of asserting itself in the afternoon. Anthony Burgess

Mind Habit Unconscious Unconscious Mind Itself Afternoon Asserting