In order to be a living, breathing thing, a novel has to be failed in some kind of way. Or at least… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share Image
A good novel should be deeply unsettling - its satisfactions should come from its authenticity and its formal coherence. We must feel… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share Image
The novel is about, for me, sustained and organized looking. I do think that people have a hunger for a sustained engagement,… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share Image
I like to buy books for the kids in my family. I guess that's why they call me the 'mean' aunt. — Dana Spiotta Copy Share Image
It takes a long time to write a novel when you have to keep interrupting your work to earn money. — Dana Spiotta Copy Share Image
There are lots of authentic, moving characters in so-called systems novels, just as there are certainly deep structural ideas in some character-driven… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share Image
The writer has to take risks and go somewhere full of mystery and possibility for the novel to deepen over the years… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share Image
For me writing is an organic process that starts with engaging the language and then thinking about the structure of the novel… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share Image
I don't have a lot of skills, but one thing I can do is, I can compartmentalize. I can make that a… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share Image
I think there's a false division people sometimes make in describing literary novels, where there are people who write systems novels, or… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share Image
My husband is a musician. He cooks and he's a chef but he also, he makes basement recordings. So many people in my life… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
People think it's suspect and self-indulgent to make art, and I don't think that's true. Some people think you should be busy making something… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
Memory is not particularly linear - it is associative, repetitive, subjective and porous. But the writer needs to convey disorder and dysfunction without making… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
I locate a great deal of the power of Occupy Wall Street in the name itself, 'Occupy Wall Street,' or '#OccupyWallStreet.' It works because… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
Although a great restaurant experience must include great food, a bad restaurant experience can be achieved through bad service alone. Ideally, service is invisible.… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
The writer has to take risks and go somewhere full of mystery and possibility for the novel to deepen over the years it takes… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
I am a great procrastinator. When the writing is going really well, the laundry piles up. — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
I like to buy books for the kids in my family. I guess that's why they call me the 'mean' aunt. — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
If you directly try to write about an idea, it will never be what you imagined. But if you're imagining through the building of… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
I like to mix the real and the imaginary. Sometimes it is characters inspired by real people I know or know of. Sometimes it… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
The idea that you can live off the grid and just do your own thing is a very American idea - that you should… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
I think there's a false division people sometimes make in describing literary novels, where there are people who write systems novels, or novels of… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
Usually there is a paradox in what a character wants. A conflict is built deeply within them. And then you put them in motion,… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
You're trying to make the language work, and your subconscious is being allowed to make the deeper, more profound connections. It's much better than… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
“Incidentally, if you have never stalked someone close to you, I highly recommend it. Check out how it tranforms them. How other they become,… — Dana Spiotta Copy Share
