“I'm not sure that it's possible to write a novel about people who don't transgress or stumble, people who don't surprise themselves with the things they do, people who can explain all their actions with perfect logical consistency. At least it's not possible for me to write that sort of novel.” PeopleWritingActionPerfectNovelSurpriseNot SureLogicalConsistency Author:Tom Perrotta
“For me, the short story is the depth of a novel, the breadth of a poem, and, as you come to the last few paragraphs, the experience of surprise.” StoriesLastsNovelSurpriseDepthShort StoryParagraphBreadth Author:Amy Bloom
“Women hock their jewels and their husbands' insurance policies to acquire an unaccustomed shade in hair or crêpe de chine. Why then is it that when anyone commits anything novel in the arts he should be always greeted by this same peevish howl of pain and surprise? One is led to suspect that the interest people show in these much talked of commodities, painting, music, and writing, cannot be very deep or very genuine when they so wince under an unexpected impact.” PeopleShouldWritingArtShowsPainArtistInterestNovelPolicyPaintingHairHusbandImpactSurpriseGenuineCommitAcquireUnexpectedSuspectsShadeCommodityJewelsNoveltyVery DeepHowlInsurance PolicyWince Author:John Dos Passos
“The inspiration for my novels comes from the depths of a creative well, based on asking myself questions over and over. I try to write something different each time I sit down to write; I try to surprise the readers.” WritingTryingWellsDifferentInspirationNovelCreativeReaderAskingSurpriseDepth Author:Nicholas Sparks
“I had a novel in the back of my mind when I won an Ian St James story competition in 1993. At the award ceremony an agent asked me if I was writing a novel. I showed her four or five chapters of what would become 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum' and to my surprise she auctioned them off.” IfsWritingMindStoriesBehindsNovelFiveFourSceneCompetitionSurpriseAgentsAwardsMuseumsChaptersCeremonyOf My MindBehind The ScenesAward Ceremonies Author:Kate Atkinson
“In a novella, a whole lot of crap can happen, and you can build momentum and suspense and leave room for a surprise or three. Stories are cut down to the most essential elements, and novels (this might be an unfair generalization on my part) are big fat clumsy efforts where the reader can snooze for a couple chapters and miss nothing of consequence. Hence my love for the middle way.” WayWholeStoriesBigsMightHappensThreeRoomsEffortNovelCuttingMiddleMissingReaderCoupleEssentialsElementsConsequenceSurpriseFatsSuspenseChaptersUnfairCrapMomentumClumsyGeneralizationMiddle Way Author:Robert Reed
“Writing a novel that works is an extremely difficult thing to do. It requires a level of skill and dedication that always surprises me.” WritingDifficultLevelsNovelSkillsSurpriseThings To DoDedicationDifficult ThingsSurprise Me Author:Bret Easton Ellis
“A Heart So White is simply one of the best novels I know. I'm also thrilled by Javier Marías sentences, by how elegant they are while also being so permissive in relation to the niceties of grammar and so open to the prospect of surprise. He's a genius.” KnowsHeartWhiteNovelGeniusRelationSurpriseSentencesMarsElegantGrammarNiceties Author:Garth Greenwell