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Quote by Robert Cormier

“I write very tightly, and my big fear is boring people. I want them to read quickly, stopped in their tracks. I resist indulging myself.”

Quote by Robert Cormier

Author

Robert Cormier was an American author known for his young adult literature. His works often dealt with social issues such as juvenile delinquency, family breakdown, and school violence. Cormier's writing was praised for its authenticity and profound insight. more

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“I find that most books that I don't like are those in which the authors have indulged themselves. I can almost sense when they're writing something for themselves.”

Writing I Can Book

Author:Robert Cormier

“Salinger is such a terrific writer; he did so many great things. He is one of those writers that I still reread, simply because he makes me see the possibilities and makes me feel like writing. There are certain writers who put you in the mood to write. In the way a whiff of a cigar will bring back memories of a ballgame on a Saturday afternoon, reading Salinger makes me want to get to the typewriter.”

Way Want Feels Writing Stills Certain Reading Memories Possibility Mood Great Things Afternoon Saturday Terrific Cigar Typewriters Ballgame Salinger Saturday Afternoon

Author:Robert Cormier

“I'm not a reader of young adult fiction for the simple reason that these novelists are writing for adolescents, so they are not writing for me.”

Writing Reason Young Simple Fiction Reader Adults Young Adult Novelists

Author:Robert Cormier

“You hope that people read your book and say "Yes, this is the way it is or could be." But then you have no way of knowing until the reader reads the book. Actually, the critical response doesn't worry me. I've had very few reviews that have upset me.”

People Way Book Worry Knowing Reader Response Critical Upset Reviews

Author:Robert Cormier

“You have to accept the critical reviews if they treat you with respect. Actually, it's one person's opinion. So, it's a concern but not an overriding one, and I don't stay up nights worrying about reviews. But there are certain people I respect who I hope will like a book.”

People Ifs Persons Book Night Certain Accepting Opinion Worry Concern Treats Critical Reviews

Author:Robert Cormier

“Kids tell me all the time, "I don't know how you do it, but that's us in the book." That's the kind of response you want, and I can't sacrifice it for the sake of somebody worried about censorship. You have to find a way to be truthful and honest.”

Knows Way Want Kind I Can Book Kids Know How Sacrifice Honest Response Sake Worried Censorship Truthful Being Truthful

Author:Robert Cormier

“People always ask me about the role models that I'm providing for kids, and I say I can't be concerned with that. I'm not worrying about corrupting youth. I'm worrying about writing realistically and truthfully to affect the reader.”

People Writing I Can Kids Asks Roles Worry Youth Reader Models Concerned Ask Me Role Models Providing Not Worrying

Author:Robert Cormier

“It would be the death of all creativity for me if I had to sit there and be concerned with the sensibilities of a fourteen-year-old kid. Some fourteen-year-olds would revel in the book, and some would be very sensitive to it, so you can't afford to worry about that. What I worry about is good taste and getting my message across by whatever means I can.”

Ifs Years Mean I Can Book Would Be Kids Creativity Worry Taste Messages Concerned Sensitive Sensibility Fourteen Good Taste

Author:Robert Cormier

“I'm always telling myself as I write that I'm not really writing a novel; I'm just going to fool around with a character or an idea.”

Writing Ideas Character Novel Fool

Author:Robert Cormier

“I don't like to think in terms of writing ten or twelve pages a day. Usually I'm writing a scene, and it's always with the idea, "I wonder what is going to happen." Or sometimes I write about something that affected me emotionally the day before and that I don't want to lose. I'm very unorganized at first; but finally it comes into a structure where consciously I'm working on a novel per se.”

Thinking Want Writing Firsts Ideas Sometimes Happens Term Loses Wonder Novel Scene Ten Pages Structure Affected Twelve

Author:Robert Cormier