“I've always gone with Kafka's model of establishing the world from the first line, as in Kafka's famous line from Metamorphosis, "Gregor Samsa woke up from uneasy dreams to find himself transformed into a gigantic insect" (or beetle or cockroach, depending on the translation). I have to have that first line before I can go further.” WorldFirstsI CanDreamLinesGoneModelsTransformedInsectsTranslationsUneasyMetamorphosisCockroachesBeetles Author:Laurie Foos
“I feel that if I establish the world or the premise from the first line, then I can get the reader to come with me where I want her to go.” IfsWorldWantFeelsFirstsI CanLinesReaderPremises Author:Laurie Foos
“I'm not conscious of my own themes as I write first drafts, no, and in fact, I work hard to stay in that unconscious space and not ask myself what the novel is about or what my metaphors might mean because then, I think, you're just dead in the water.” ThinkingWritingFirstsMeanHardFactsMightAsksWaterMy OwnSpaceNovelHard WorkConsciousMetaphorThemeUnconscious Author:Laurie Foos
“I've realized that with each novel I seem to set out a kind of puzzle for myself. And I am never sure in the process of writing a first draft how it's all going to turn out.” WritingFirstsKindSeemsTurnsProcessNovelPuzzles Author:Laurie Foos