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
It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once you get to know them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writing can feel lonely, but fictional characters can provide a sense of companionship.
Anne Tyler highlights the paradox of writing; while it often requires solitude, the act of creating and engaging with imaginary characters can create a profound connection. Writers may initially feel isolated, but through their characters, they experience companionship and camaraderie, enriching their creative journey.
Themes
WritingCompanionshipCharactersSolitudeFiction
In practice
Example use cases
A writer might use this quote in a workshop to encourage participants to embrace their characters as companions.
More from Anne Tyler
All quotes βI 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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