Quotes by Writers

Writing fiction, I really just sit there and it just comes. Alexander McCall Smith

Writing Sit Just Fiction Really

Writers obviously have to bear witness to the harsh face of the age. Alexander McCall Smith

Age Witness Face Harsh Bear Writers Obviously

Fiction is able to encompass books that are bleak and which dwell on the manifold and terrible problems of our times. But I don't think that all books need to have that particular focus. Alexander McCall Smith

Problems Focus Think Our Books Able Bleak Particular Terrible Encompass Times Dwell Fiction Which Manifold Need

My Botswana books are positive, and I've never really sought to deny that. They are positive. They present a very positive picture of the country. And I think that that is perfectly defensible given that there is so much written about Africa which is entirely negative. Alexander McCall Smith

Botswana is actually very peaceful. It's democratic. It never was in debt. They've been fortunate, they've had diamonds. Alexander McCall Smith

Never Had Democratic Diamonds Been Debt Very Fortunate Peaceful Actually

If you lose sight of the smaller accomplishments, you end up with an imbalance in your life. Alexander McCall Smith

Life You Lose Imbalance Sight Smaller Accomplishments End Up Your

I am capable of being idle. Alexander McCall Smith

Idle Am Being Capable

Books have become products, like cereal or perfume or deodorant. Alexandra Ripley

Become Books Like Perfume Deodorant Cereal Products

I really don't know why Scarlett has such appeal. When I began writing the sequel, I had a lot of trouble because Scarlett is not my kind of person. She's virtually illiterate, has no taste, never learns from her mistakes. Alexandra Ripley

I'm absolutely terrified of spiders. Alexi Zentner

Spiders Absolutely Terrified

My children have stolen my dreams in a very literal sense. I've lost months in the minutes and hours that Sabine and Zoey have needed me at night, their thin, butterfly-beating hearts pushed against me in the darkness. Alexi Zentner

Dreams Me Darkness Lost Sense Months Minutes Pushed Hours Very Hearts Stolen Children Literal Against Thin Night Needed

I grew up reading thrillers, science fiction, fantasy - you name it - and one day I asked myself if there was a reason why a fear of spiders was so common. Was there something buried deep in our evolutionary history that made being scared of spiders a survival instinct? Alexi Zentner

Myself Day History You Survival Science Fear Made Reading Our One Day Evolutionary Spiders Scared Something Thrillers Instinct Name Science Fiction Up Common Buried Being Fiction Grew Fantasy Asked Being Scared Reason Deep Why

For 'The Lobster Kings,' I listened to a lot of Johnny Cash. And it makes its way into the book. Alexi Zentner

Book Lobster Way Kings Cash Johnny Johnny Cash Makes Lot Listened

I get very tired of books that feel emotionally empty. I would much rather have writers err on the side of being overly sentimental than not. I think that the perfect balance is a story that moves you without being maudlin, but I don't enjoy books that are empty of emotion and there's no connection to the characters. Alexi Zentner

Tired You Balance Enjoy Think Side Books Characters Would No Connection Rather Perfect Emotion Writers Emotionally Feel Empty Without Overly Err Very Than Maudlin Get Being Moves Story Sentimental Much Connection

The worst day of writing is still better than the best day of telemarketing. Alexi Zentner

Best Day Writing Better Worst Still Than

As much as I love my daughters, I wasn't happy with only being a stay-at-home-dad, and my wife encouraged me to try, to really try, at being a writer. More than anything, I didn't want to let her down. Alexi Zentner

Love Me Happy Try Wife Down More Only More Than Anything Daughters Writer Encouraged Than Being Want Anything Much Really Her

I've said many times that there only two things to write about: love and death. And when you have children, you remember that the world is full of sharp corners and dangerous things, and suddenly you have these small, soft creatures, which you love in almost painful way. Alexi Zentner

Love Death You World Dangerous Remember Corners Way About Only Small Write Almost Sharp Said Times Children Which Full Painful Many Suddenly Creatures Things Two Soft