“Most bad books get that way because their authors are engaged in trying to justify themselves. If a vain author is an alcoholic, then the most sympathetically portrayed character in his book will be an alcoholic. This sort of thing is very boring for outsiders.” IfsWayWritingTryingBookCharacterBoringVainEngagedJustifyOutsidersAlcoholics Book:Truth and Lies in Literature, A Writer's Ten Commandments: (Revised and Extended edition) Source: Truth and Lies in Literature, A Writer's Ten Commandments: (Revised and Extended edition)
“The only virtue a character needs to possess between hardcovers, even if he bears a real person's name, is vitality: if he comes to life in our imaginations, he passes the test.” IfsNeedsPersonsRealCharacterNamesImaginationVirtueBearsTestsVitalityReal Person Book:Truth and Lies in Literature: Essays and Reviews Source: Truth and Lies in Literature: Essays and Reviews
