Home / Quotes / Quote by Chang-Rae Lee

Quote by Chang-Rae Lee

“I think the action is ninety-three percent, and the consideration is peppered throughout but pretty short... Once I start it, I feel as though I don't want to look over my shoulder too much. I want to trust the preparations I've made.”

Quote by Chang-Rae Lee

Author

Chang-Rae Lee, born on July 29, 1965, is a renowned American novelist. His works focus on American society and culture, particularly exploring themes of race, identity, and class. Lee's unique writing style has won him a wide audience. more

You May Also Like

“I really try to forget. I only look at my old works if there's an interview and someone asks me about it. Otherwise, it's not even in the rearview mirror.”

Ifs Trying Looks Asks Forget Mirrors Ask Me Interviews Rearview Mirror

Author:Chang-Rae Lee

“It's just a weird idea to me because each book is a complete universe unto itself, so why would I want this other universe from this other galaxy that has nothing to do with mine? That's how I really feel about it. Let's be honest - I'm still the writer, so certain things will be common denominators. But that I just want to keep natural and not studied.”

Want Feels Stills Book Ideas Certain Universe Natural Common Honest Mines Being Honest Galaxy Common Denominator

Author:Chang-Rae Lee

“Some writers are writing one great, big book and just taking all these different avenues towards it. They might seem on the outside to be different, but they're really not. And that's a different kind of mindset. I don't know why it is, but I just feel like I really want to escape myself as much as I can - myself as the artist, or as the writer, or as the thinker - with each new project, because one, it's just boredom, but also, I guess I just feel most comfortable starting a new book if I just feel a little in the dark about it.”

“I did feel a little afraid, as you say, the complete liberty and "elasticity" of it. But I found that I liked some of the things that it availed me of in terms of emotion and tonal stuff. I came to find it appealing.”

Feels Littles Found Stuff Term Emotion Liberty Elasticity

Author:Chang-Rae Lee

“I don't think that stuff is gone - I just don't want to dwell on it. There's a difference. As I said, I think we all have tendencies as writers, and I think we all have experience that we bring as readers to each project.”

Thinking Want Said Stuff Differences Gone Reader Projects Tendencies

Author:Chang-Rae Lee

“So my first book I had no experience having written a book, but each book is a little snapshot of who you are at that moment, accrued all through time, so I accept that.”

Firsts Littles Book Moments Accepting Written Who You Are That Moment Rough Times Snapshots

Author:Chang-Rae Lee

“I try to be aware of what I'm concerned about, aware of how I feel about myself in the world, aware of how I feel about the issues of the day, but I guess I don't want to write essays in my head about my craft and maybe it's because I teach and talk about craft of other writers as a reader. I feel the moment I start doing that is when it's going to kill me.”

World Want Feels Writing Trying Moments Teach Issues Reader Concerned Crafts Essays Kill Me

Author:Chang-Rae Lee

“I wish I knew exactly who I was. I was talking to a friend earlier about the advice people give each other, advice like "just be yourself," and how this is particularly awful because it presumes we know who we are. As if people are static and unchanging.”

People Ifs Knows Giving Wish Talking Advice Awful Being Yourself Who We Are Static Just Be Yourself Unchanging

Author:Mary J. Miller

“Good writing, in my opinion, is writing that looks really easy, so easy that a person who has never written more than a grocery list might convince themself that they could also write a book. That being said, it's always a lot of work, as you know. And then there's this: you have no idea how many failed stories and novels I've attempted. I have files full of stories that didn't work for whatever reason.”

Knows Writing Looks Persons Said Book Ideas Reason Stories Might Easy Opinion Novel Written Lists No Idea Convince Now And Then Files Groceries Good Writing Grocery Lists

Author:Mary J. Miller

“A story works when there's momentum, life behind the words. Some stories have this and others don't, and it's difficult to say why this is. If all stories "worked," though, writing wouldn't be much of a challenge; it wouldn't be art.”

Ifs Writing Art Stories Difficult Challenges Behinds Momentum

Author:Mary J. Miller