The one ironclad rule is that I have to try. I have to walk into my writing room and pick up my pen every weekday morning
Anne TylerRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the challenges and ease of writing as influenced by personal life, particularly parenting.
Anne Tyler's quote captures the unpredictable nature of writing, where each book can present unique challenges. She highlights that, although the process can be fraught with difficulty, it has become easier for her post-child-rearing, as she now has more time and mental space to dedicate to her craft.
Themes
WritingParentingChallengesCreativityTime
In practice
Example use cases
During a writer's workshop, when discussing the evolution of creativity over time.
More from Anne Tyler
All quotes →I don't know what takes more courage: surviving a lifelong endurance test because you once made a promise or breaking free, disrupting all your world.
Anne TylerRead
I just want to be told a story, and I want to believe I'm living that story, and I don't give a thought to influences or method or any other writerly concerns
Anne TylerRead
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.
Anne TylerRead
It seems to me that since I've had children, I've grown richer and deeper. They may have slowed down my writing for a while, but when I did write, I had more of a self to speak from.
Anne TylerRead
And she thought what a clean, simple life she would have led if it weren't for love.
Anne TylerRead
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