“Not to any really influential effect, but certainly there have been comments that have surprised me. It's surprising sometimes to get particular perspectives on your work, and it's enlightening sometimes to know that non-writers and readers out there have certain assumptions about everything that I both want to keep in mind and want to forget about why I write, and about the connection between me as a private person and the stuff that I think about on the page.” ThinkingKnowsWantWritingMindPersonsHas BeensSometimesCertainStuffForgetEffectsParticularPerspectiveReaderPagesConnectionsAssumptionCommentSurprisingEnlighteningInfluential Author:Chang-Rae Lee
“I think the action is ninety-three percent, and the consideration is peppered throughout but pretty short... Once I start it, I feel as though I don't want to look over my shoulder too much. I want to trust the preparations I've made.” ThinkingWantFeelsLooksMadeActionThreeToo MuchPercentShouldersPreparationConsiderationNinety Author:Chang-Rae Lee
“It's just a weird idea to me because each book is a complete universe unto itself, so why would I want this other universe from this other galaxy that has nothing to do with mine? That's how I really feel about it. Let's be honest - I'm still the writer, so certain things will be common denominators. But that I just want to keep natural and not studied.” WantFeelsStillsBookIdeasCertainUniverseNaturalCommonHonestMinesBeing HonestGalaxyCommon Denominator Author:Chang-Rae Lee
“Some writers are writing one great, big book and just taking all these different avenues towards it. They might seem on the outside to be different, but they're really not. And that's a different kind of mindset. I don't know why it is, but I just feel like I really want to escape myself as much as I can - myself as the artist, or as the writer, or as the thinker - with each new project, because one, it's just boredom, but also, I guess I just feel most comfortable starting a new book if I just feel a little in the dark about it.” IfsKnowsWantFeelsWritingKindLittlesI CanBookDifferentBigsSeemsMightArtistDarkComfortableProjectsStartingMindsetBoredomThinkerDifferent KindsAvenuesNew BooksNew ProjectsBig Book Author:Chang-Rae Lee
“I don't think that stuff is gone - I just don't want to dwell on it. There's a difference. As I said, I think we all have tendencies as writers, and I think we all have experience that we bring as readers to each project.” ThinkingWantSaidStuffDifferencesGoneReaderProjectsTendencies Author:Chang-Rae Lee
“I try to be aware of what I'm concerned about, aware of how I feel about myself in the world, aware of how I feel about the issues of the day, but I guess I don't want to write essays in my head about my craft and maybe it's because I teach and talk about craft of other writers as a reader. I feel the moment I start doing that is when it's going to kill me.” WorldWantFeelsWritingTryingMomentsTeachIssuesReaderConcernedCraftsEssaysKill Me Author:Chang-Rae Lee
“The past, as you suggest, is absolutely present at all times and the present is born from the past. I wouldn't want to suggest that the past determines the present.” WantPastBornDetermineAll Time Author:Chang-Rae Lee
“I want the flashbacks to feel that once you're there they have their own unity, their own kind of atmospheric sensibility; I want the reader to be transported. The novel is a big, complicated, unknowable thing before it's written.” WantFeelsKindBigsNovelWrittenReaderUnityComplicatedSensibilityFlashback Author:Chang-Rae Lee
“When I'm describing wartime activities or violence I don't want to be too ornate, to prettify the picture. Once we trace them to the present, the prose becomes denser.” WantViolenceActivityProseDescribingWartime Author:Chang-Rae Lee
“Historical novels are about costumery. I think that's the magic and mystery of fiction. I don't want to write historical fiction but I do want the story to have the feel of history. There's a difference.” ThinkingWantFeelsWritingStoriesDifferencesFictionNovelMagicMysteryHistoricalHistorical FictionHistorical Novels Author:Chang-Rae Lee
