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Rachel Kushner

Rachel Kushner Quotes

Writer

Rachel Kushner (b. 1968) is an acclaimed American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. Her notable works include Telex from Cuba, The Flamethrowers, and The Mars Room. Known for her historical depth, complex narratives, and sharp cultural critique, Kushner explores American history, politics, and identity through richly layered prose. Her novel The Mars Room was a finalist for the 2018 Booker Prize and Pulitzer Prize.

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Famous Rachel Kushner Quotes

“I don't really have those kinds of intentions when I write a scene. I try to follow the internal logic of the fiction, rather than make an argument or an assertion.”

Writing Trying Kind Fiction Scene Argument Logic Intention Internals Assertion

Author:Rachel Kushner

“You need a constant money source to live in New York City unless you're independently wealthy, which I'm not. But, from writing about art, I had met some artists in L.A. They said, "Why don't you try living out here?" So I traded apartments with the painter Delia Brown. That was in 2003. I loved it. I still love living there.”

Writing Trying Art Artist Painter Wealthy Apartment

Author:Rachel Kushner

“I do not consciously reclaim. I am not those "some readers" and so I think it would be impossible for me to see my work that way, as reclaiming a preserve. I write in a way that is aimed at all levels - conscious and unconscious - at pleasing the kind of reader I am. Some of the authors I read are male, some are female, and some are even in between. And speaking of in between, maybe now is as good a moment as any to point out that there might be no "feminine" or "masculine" literary sensibility, or sensibility generally.”

Thinking Writing Kind Moments Impossible Conscious Female Unconscious Feminine Sensibility Masculine

Author:Rachel Kushner

“I'm happy to be a woman but much of it was learned over the course of life. Really thudded into me. You learn it. It's a kind of mastery and artistry. The deeper person underneath the scent of Diptyque Philosykos or whatever is much less gendered. Every person has a range. In fiction, you get to be it all. I'm as much the men in my book as I am the women. I write how I write and there is no mission to stake a claim.”

Men Writing Kind Book He Man Artistry

Author:Rachel Kushner

“There was lots of pleasure in writing The Flamethrowers. Then again, what is pleasure? Some pleasure is easy and other kinds are never quite felt, existing only as the residue of hard work, or more as satisfaction than thrill.”

Writing Kind Easy Pleasure Hard Work Never Quit

Author:Rachel Kushner

“Writing is a way of living. It doesn't quite matter that there are too many books for the number of readers in the world to read them. It's a way of being alive, for the writer.”

World Way Writing Book Matter Numbers Alive Reader

Author:Rachel Kushner

“I do not enjoy the promotional side of being a writer, to be blunt about it. Even with the little amount that is expected of me, which is nothing compared to the life of an artist. Writers can live in obscurity and come out of the woodwork with a book, then go back in. Artists don’t have that luxury.”

Writing Littles Book Artist Enjoy Sides Amount Expected Luxury Obscurity Blunt

Author:Rachel Kushner

“Every person has a range. In fiction, you get to be it all. I’m as much the men in my book as I am the women. I write how I write and there is no mission to stake a claim.”

Men Writing Persons Book Fiction He Man Claims Missions Range Stakes

Author:Rachel Kushner

“In writing novels, you have to believe in yourself or there would be no way to sustain it. But you also have to give good evidence regularly for having that faith in self-either with quality goods or with, at least, "good efforts." Working hard will do when inspiration is not forthcoming.”

Way Giving Writing Believe Self Hard Inspiration Would Be Effort Quality Novel Evidence Believe In Yourself Goods Believe In You Forthcoming Quality Goods

Author:Rachel Kushner

“Eventually, I decided that if I was going to really write a novel, I couldn't do it in New York City while holding down a job. You need a constant money source to live in New York City unless you're independently wealthy, which I'm not.”

Ifs Needs Writing Jobs Cities Novel New York Source Decided Constant Wealthy New York City

Author:Rachel Kushner

“I didn't do a masters in creative writing until I was 26, which is quite old, and then I found myself in New York and I needed money, so I started working full time as an editor.”

Writing Found Creative New York Masters Needed Editors Creative Writing

Author:Rachel Kushner

“L.A. is a great place to write because you have a lot of space. I have a big office at home, I can leave the doors open. Flowers bloom all year. But it's unglamorous in all the right ways.”

Way Writing Years I Can Home Bigs Space Doors Flower Office Right Way Blooming Flower

Author:Rachel Kushner

“Writing a first novel was an arduous crash course. I learned so much in the six years it took me to write it, mostly technical things pertaining to craft.”

Writing Years Firsts Courses Novel Six Crafts Crash

Author:Rachel Kushner

About the Author

Born: 1968
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 105

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Books & Sources

The FlamethrowersRelated source material

The Flamethrowers: A NovelRelated source material

Creation LakeRelated source material

The Mars RoomRelated source material

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