“I can never tell ahead of time which book will give me trouble - some balk every step of the way, others seem to write themselves - but certainly the mechanics of writing, finding the time and the psychic space, are easier now that my children are grown.” WayGivingWritingChildrenI CanBookSeemsLiteratureSpaceStepsTroubleEasierFindingsGive MeMy ChildrenPsychicsMechanicEvery StepAhead Of Time Author:Anne Tyler
“I do write long, long character notes - family background, history, details of appearance - much more than will ever appear in the novel. I think this is what lifts a book from that early calculated, artificial stage.” ThinkingWritingLongBookCharacterLiteratureNovelStageNotesDetailsAppearanceBackgroundsLiftsArtificialFamily Background Author:Anne Tyler
“But what I hope for from a book - either one that I write or one that I read - is transparency. I want the story to shine through. I don't want to think of the writer.” ThinkingWantWritingBookStoriesLiteratureShiningTransparency Author:Anne Tyler
“And I am interested in the fact that class is very much a factor in America, even though it's not supposed to be.” FactsAmericaClassFactorsSupposed To Be Author:Anne Tyler
“I consciously try to end my novels at a point where I won't have to wonder about my characters ever again.” TryingEndsCharacterLiteratureWonderNovelTry Again Author:Anne Tyler
“I don't want to say I hear voices; well, actually I do hear voices, but I don't think it's supernatural. I think it's just that when characters are given enough texture and backbone, then lo and behold, they stand on their own.” ThinkingWantWellsEnoughCharacterGivenVoiceTextureBackbone Author:Anne Tyler
“It seems to me that good novels celebrate the mystery in ordinary life, and summing it all up in psychological terms strips the mystery away” SeemsTermNovelMysteryOrdinaryPsychologicalCelebrateOrdinary LifeCelebrate Life Author:Anne Tyler
“I'll write maybe one long paragraph describing the events, then a page or two breaking the events into chapters, and then reams of pages delving into my characters. After that, I'm ready to begin” WritingLongTwoCharacterLiteratureEventsReadyPagesChaptersDescribingParagraphDelving Author:Anne Tyler