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Quote by George Saunders

“Toni Morrison seems to have a lot of faith in people - that's what I mean by gentle power.”

Quote by George Saunders

Author

George Saunders

George Saunders, born on December 2, 1958, is an American writer known for his unique humor and profound insights. His works, primarily short stories, have gained widespread recognition and have been honored with numerous literary awards, including the Pulitzer Prize. more

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“I guess: People who are comfortable enough with reality to allow other sorts of realities and other mindsets to just be, and then to regard these with real interest and joy [and the joy appears in the prose quality itself].”

People Real Enough Reality Joy Interest Quality Comfortable Regard Mindset Prose

Author:George Saunders

“I see this quality [real interest and joy] in the work of [Pavel] Chekhov, of course, and [Alexei] Tolstoy and really just about any great writer.”

Real Joy Courses Interest Quality Great Writers Chekhov

Author:George Saunders

“I sometimes imagine a great writer as a sort of God-surrogate: the writer is doing his or her human-best to emulate what God might think of is, if God was inclined to observe some human beings and present their activities in the form of a narrative.”

Ifs Thinking Humans Sometimes Might Form Human Beings Imagine Activity Narrative Great Writers Emulate Surrogates

Author:George Saunders

“It really was something, to see Ram Bahadur Bomjon, apparently living without food or water. Before I went on that trip I'd asked advice on it from a very wise person who I love and revere - basically trying to see if I was somehow disrespecting Buddhism by trying to write about it, and also looking for some grounding on what stance to take ... and my friend said, "Well, why don't you just go and see?" And I hear that in my head all the time now: "Why don't you go and see?"”

Ifs Writing Trying Wells Persons Said Water Wise Advice Buddhism My Friends Stance Grounding Very Wise Rams Wise Person

Author:George Saunders

“I think that tri [to Ram Bahadur Bomjon] was the first time I'd even seen something that made me think, or really feel: "Ah, I don't know what's really going on in the world - I think I do, and it feels like I do, but whatever is really going on is, de facto, beyond the scope of my comprehension - the best we can do is look for hints." I'd known that intellectually before but that was the first time I really believed it viscerally.”

Thinking Knows World Feels Firsts Looks Made Can Do Known First Time Scope Hints Comprehension Rams

Author:George Saunders

“I hear that in my head all the time now: 'Why don't you go and see?'.”

Author:George Saunders

“Some of our writers are starting to incorporate elements of social media, etc. in the work itself, which is all for the good, I think - finding new ways of being poetic.”

Thinking Way Social Media Elements Findings Starting Social Media Etc Poetic New Ways

Author:George Saunders

“The only thing I might have noticed [and this is pretty anecdotal] is that there is some tendency to need to be taught that 'writing is rewriting' - maybe more of a sense than was pervasive 10 years ago that the first or second pass of a story is sufficient. That is an idea that is easily dislodged, but I suspect it might have something to do with the turnaround time re: blogging and so on - this sense that there is some essential truth about a first draft that one runs the risk of "ruining" by coming back to it.”

Needs Writing Years Firsts Ideas Stories Might Running Risk Taught Essentials Years Ago Tendencies Sufficient Suspects Coming Back Blogging Rewriting Turnaround

Author:George Saunders

“I used to joke about this but I've recently realized that I really believe it: I spent many years training myself to write very slowly for pretty good money. So the idea of writing really quickly for free offends me.”

Writing Years Believe Ideas Used Training Jokes Good Money

Author:George Saunders

“I've found that my first drafts are not so special. But the more I work on them, the better they get. They are more unique and defensible.”

Firsts Found Special Unique

Author:George Saunders