“For me writing is an organic process that starts with engaging the language and then thinking about the structure of the novel as you move along. Especially in revision you start to notice correlations. Things come up, not self-consciously, because you're busy feeling your way through sentences and trying to push the language into new places.” ThinkingWayWritingTryingSelfFeelingsMovingLanguageProcessNovelStructureBusyCome UpSentencesEngagingRevisionCorrelationNew Places Author:Dana Spiotta
“If you directly try to write about an idea, it will never be what you imagined. But if you're imagining through the building of sentences, through the characters, and paying attention to avoid ease and comfort yet still thinking about making the sentences work, you will get a shot at some real interesting stuff.” IfsThinkingWritingTryingStillsIdeasRealCharacterStuffInterestingAttentionBuildingComfortShotsSentencesPay AttentionEaseInteresting Stuff Author:Dana Spiotta
“You're trying to make the language work, and your subconscious is being allowed to make the deeper, more profound connections. It's much better than going at it all frontally. But you can't conjure it in an intellectual way; it has to come out of another engagement, a more intuitive engagement. Revision is where the intellectual, analytical work happens. At least for me.” WayTryingHappensLanguageIntellectualConnectionsProfoundDeeperEngagementSubconsciousIntuitiveRevision Author:Dana Spiotta
“I am always trying to do something new and different. The first step is curiosity, questions. You pay attention to what fascinates you. If you can't shake it, there is something there.” IfsTryingFirstsDifferentPayAttentionStepsCuriosityPay AttentionShakesSomething NewFirst StepsAlways Trying Author:Dana Spiotta
“Even a documentary portrait of a person that tries to be very accurate is shaped by the filmmaker in so many ways.” WayTryingPersonsFilmmakerAccuratePortraitsDocumentaries Author:Dana Spiotta
“Even if we try to see people in our lives accurately, it is distorted by our own wants and prejudices and experiences.” PeopleIfsWantTryingOur LivesPrejudicePeople In Our Lives Author:Dana Spiotta
“I think most writers have to have a practice of writing. For me it is very early in the morning. I try to make it a separate world from the rest of my life.” ThinkingWorldWritingTryingPracticeMorning Author:Dana Spiotta
“I try to write about how we live today, how we use language, technology, our bodies.” WritingTryingUseBodyTodayLanguageTechnologyLive For Today Author:Dana Spiotta
“Yes, I did try acting when I was in high school and I was terrible at it. So I definitely have had the experience of being bad at artistic endeavor.” TryingSchoolActingTerribleHigh SchoolArtisticEndeavorBeing Bad Author:Dana Spiotta
