“In one book, CACHALOT, just for my own amusement, every character is based directly on someone I have known.” BookCharacterMy OwnKnownAmusement Author:Alan Dean Foster
“How much research I have to do depends on the nature of the story. For fantasy, none at all.” StoriesFantasyDependsResearch Author:Alan Dean Foster
“The overwhelming triumph of the international multimedia conglomerate has resulted in less diversity within the field and has made it much harder for newer writers not only to break in, but to make any kind of a living while doing so.” KindMadeBreakFieldsDiversityHarderInternationalMade ItTriumphOverwhelmingMultimedia Author:Alan Dean Foster
“There's certainly more new SF available than when I started writing. That means there's also more bad SF available. Whether there is also more good is a matter for future historians of the field.” WritingMeanMatterFieldsAvailableHistorian Author:Alan Dean Foster
“I try to challenge myself as much as possible, as often as possible.” TryingChallenges Author:Alan Dean Foster
“Keep writing. Try to do a little bit every day, even if the result looks like crap. Getting from page four to page five is more important than spending three weeks getting page four perfect.” IfsWritingTryingLooksLittlesImportantThreeBitsPerfectResultsFiveFourWeekLittle BitPagesSpendingCrap Author:Alan Dean Foster
“I hear entire symphonies, oratorios, in my head, but I can't write a note.” WritingI CanNotesSymphony Author:Alan Dean Foster
“Advances have fallen, generally, for everything except the biggest potential bestsellers. Given all the changes, both economic and technological, SF hasn't done too badly.” DoneGivenEconomicFallenTechnological Author:Alan Dean Foster
“You don't paddle against the current, you paddle with it. And if you get good at it, you throw away the oars.” IfsCurrentsOar Author:Kris Kristofferson