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Quote by Tama Janowitz

“I think in a lot of ways, writing, when you're really in there, is like being an actress because you're in somebody else's head.”

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Tama Janowitz

Tama Janowitz is an American novelist known for her profound depiction of life in New York City. Her works often focus on young, urban protagonists and the challenges they face in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s. more

“I think it's more difficult writing what it's like to be a child. You can pretend you know what it's like, but you don't really know. The only parts I can remember is that the adults were like, "Aren't they cute?" But when you're little you're looking at the other kids like they're your colleagues. They're not like, "Oh, we're all cute little kids." They're more like your office acquaintances. It's very hard to grasp the memories of what it actually was like to be a kid.”

Thinking Knows Writing Children Littles I Can Hard Kids Remember Difficult Memories Like You Office Adults Cute Colleagues Little Kid Acquaintance

Author:Tama Janowitz

“The older a woman gets, the more invisible you become.”

Invisible

Author:Tama Janowitz

“Fame is really great in a lot of ways, you know? People are a lot nicer to you. Like, the more famous you are, the more free presents you get. And invitations to really amazing things.”

People Knows Way Fame Really Great Invitations Amazing Things Really Amazing

Author:Tama Janowitz

“If you want to be a writer, all you need is a piece of paper and a pencil, and I had a manual typewriter. It doesn't cost money to write. It costs money to make art. So I would just write. I would hand out stories in the classes in high school. And the teacher would say, "Whatever you do, don't become a writer."”

Ifs Want Needs Writing Art Stories Hands School Class Teacher Pieces Cost Paper High School Pencils Typewriters Manuals

Author:Tama Janowitz

“Most of my life is just spent lying in bed. I mean, it's enough pressure to write the words. Do I need to use the additional energy exerted by sitting up?”

Needs Writing Mean Enough Use Life Is Lying Energy Bed Sitting Pressure Sitting Up

Author:Tama Janowitz

“The novel is never really in the first draft. The novel really happens in the revisions.”

Firsts Happens Novel Revision

Author:Tama Janowitz

“I think it's true about people now being closer to their parents, since the '60s, really. The parents are no longer from a different planet, the 1950s ideas of American family. We could be friends with our parents. After the '60s, it wasn't like a person smoking pot was what the parents would be appalled at.”

People Thinking Persons Ideas Different Would Be Parent Planets Smoking Pot American Family Smoking Pot

Author:Tama Janowitz

“I'm writing what I want to write. But it's almost an act of rebellion on my part. Because as a person, I've always wanted to be very likeable, and I think that's a horrible thing, particularly for women. You're always like, "Oh, I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings. I hope they like me!" And that's just so stupid.”

Thinking Want Writing Persons Feelings Wanted Hurt Stupid Horrible Like Me Rebellion Horrible Things Likeable

Author:Tama Janowitz

“I think powerful women don't care whether or not they're liked.”

Thinking Care Powerful Don't Care Powerful Women

Author:Tama Janowitz

“In my writing I wanted to be liked for writing really unlikeable stuff. There were books that people, particularly women, hated so much. They said, "I threw it against the wall!" Which, in my opinion, was a compliment. Because it's very hard to get somebody to throw something.”

People Writing Said Book Hard Wanted Stuff Opinion Wall Hated Compliment They Said

Author:Tama Janowitz

Quote by Tama Janowitz

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