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Quote by Donald Ray Pollock

“I'm not sure what the proper label might be, or the most accurate one, but someone once called my stuff Southern Ohio Gothic and I thought that was fair.”

Quote by Donald Ray Pollock

Author

Donald Ray Pollock

Donald Ray Pollock is an American writer born in 1954 in Kentucky. His works are characterized by their depiction of rural life in the American South, known for their unique narrative style and profound social insight. more

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“I really have no idea what the French think of my characters, or why The Devil All the Time did so well there.”

Thinking Wells Ideas Character Devil No Idea

Author:Donald Ray Pollock

“I do think they [French] view my writing itself as exotic - though that's probably not the best term for it - to a small extent, mainly because I say things that most French writers would probably hesitate to say for fear of offending someone or upsetting public sensibilities. I don't think that answers the question, but I'm not much good at figuring readers out or I would probably be writing bestsellers.”

Thinking Writing Term Answers Views Reader Upset Sensibility Exotic Offending

Author:Donald Ray Pollock

“I don't really think the outburst is recent; there have always been writers in Appalachia.”

Thinking Outburst Appalachia

Author:Donald Ray Pollock

“There are a lot of writers from the South who would probably have once figured they needed to go to New York to make it who have stayed closer to home - people like David Joy, Tom Franklin, Sheldon Lee Compton, Wiley Cash, Mark Powell, and Alex Taylor.”

People Home Joy New York Needed Mark South Cash Toms Alex Franklin Compton

Author:Donald Ray Pollock

“It was really just the name that inspired me: Rainsboro. It's located near Rocky Fork State Park. I have probably driven through that little place a thousand times, but, in that weird way my mind works sometimes, one particular evening it just hit me the right way, I guess. Created a mood more than anything else. And then I started thinking about a woman and her young son who end up there.”

Thinking Way Mind Littles Ends Sometimes States Young Names Particular Son Thousand Inspired Driven Mood Evening Parks Right Way Forks Young Sons

Author:Donald Ray Pollock

“I don't think I'd call [mood] a major force, but it is important as far as hitting the right notes or nuances with a character or scene.”

Thinking Important Character Force Scene Majors Notes Mood Hitting Nuance

Author:Donald Ray Pollock

“For example, if it's a sad scene, I need to feel that way, at least to a slight degree and for a short while, to get it right. Which is why I sometimes listen to music when I'm revising. Music creates moods for me quicker than any other medium.”

Ifs Way Needs Feels Sometimes Example Scene Degrees Mood Mediums Listening To Music Revising

Author:Donald Ray Pollock

“I guess music is the one universal art form that most people can be moved by, regardless of where they come from, and for many it might be the closest they get to god, but I think taking a trip out into the country, away from the light pollution, and looking at a clear night sky is what does it best for me.”

People Thinking Doe Art Country Light Might Form Night Clear Sky Music Is Universal Moved Pollution Closest Night Sky

Author:Donald Ray Pollock

“I don't think writing fiction has changed my worldview.”

Thinking Writing Fiction Changed Worldview Writing Fiction

Author:Donald Ray Pollock

“I've always been a bit of a pessimist in regard to mankind.”

Bits Mankind Regard Pessimist

Author:Donald Ray Pollock