I think I was also afraid of the novel. I write line by line, proceeding at snail's pace, rewriting as I go and paring the excess away. This is against all the best advice for writing long form prose, and… — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
“Whatever we know as children, this is the world, eaten whole and without question.” — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
I kept writing short stories and sending out my manuscript, and it kept coming back like a bad penny. It was rejected all over… — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
That requires quite an imaginative leap because it's hard for me to imagine that my biography would be of much interest to anyone, and… — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
“Whatever is eating her brain consumes only the fresher memories, the unripe moments” — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
With the historical fictions, I was already doing so much research, and so much of the stories was anchored by historical truth that the… — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
Whatever one may say about the perils of workshops, they help writers internalize an awareness of audience. — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
Peculiar as I was, and remain, I was trained to be practical. I'm still amazed at the radical temerity of my friends, you included,… — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
Unless you're Stephen King or Joyce Carol Oates, no one's going to recognize you on the street, and you're promoting your book, not yourself. — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
I tell my students, if you're interested in marine biology or llama farming, follow that string. Yes, it will probably take you a longer… — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
Along the way, I've worked as a waitress, I've done phone surveys, and worked as a receptionist, and for the last twenty years I've… — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
“He nods solemnly and repeats the stock response of the Housing Committee whenever they address the perpetual shortage of apartments in Leningrad. “Privacy is… — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
“Each day, the world is made fresh again, holy, and she takes it in, in all its raw intensity, like a young child. She… — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
Practicality continues to be a challenge for me - it's at odds with being an artist. I actually had a career on stage in… — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
“is eating her brain consumes only the fresher memories, the unripe moments. Her distant past is preserved, better than preserved. Moments that occurred in… — Debra Dean Copy Share Image
