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Quote by Tama Janowitz

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

Author

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 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

“If you want to write about a person who isn't nice, people say, "This is a bad book. It's about somebody I couldn't stand." But that's not the point. You don't have to like a character to like a book. Most of the time, people would misjudge and say, "I didn't like the book." No, you didn't like the character. That doesn't make it any less interesting of a book. In fact, to me, it makes it more interesting.”

People Ifs Want Writing Persons Book Character Facts Interesting Nice Nice People

Author:Tama Janowitz

“Why would I want to read something about somebody that's just a really nice, decent person who overcomes terrible trials? That's not how life is to me.”

Want Persons Life Is Nice Terrible Overcoming Trials Decent Really Nice

Author:Tama Janowitz

“I feel like women very often do write differently than men, but women write things that men can't write.”

Men Feels Writing

Author:Molly Ringwald

“Not all women write the same. But I don't understand why the model is that you're supposed to write like a man, and that means you're a real writer.”

Men Writing Mean Real Models

Author:Molly Ringwald

“I think people assume that women write about the domestic sphere. Women write about relationships and family. Men do, too, but then it's the Great American Novel.”

People Thinking Men Writing Novel Assuming Spheres Great American Family Man

Author:Molly Ringwald

“I write in bed, too. I find it very comforting. I want to sort of, like, crawl in a fetal position if I have to.”

Ifs Want Writing Position Bed Comforting

Author:Molly Ringwald

Quote by Tama Janowitz

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