A story works when there's momentum, life behind the words. Some stories have this and others don't, and it's difficult to say… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I can't remember who said it - I think it was Allan Gurganus when he was visiting the Michener Center - but… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
Sometimes the way comes later, when I'm not working or thinking about it at all. When stories don't work, you try to… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
There's definitely a magical quality to writing that can't be explained. I can write something I love in two days, or I… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
There are many stories I've wanted to write that I'm simply not able to - sometimes I haven't found the way in… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I don't revise a lot when writing short stories. As far as the novel, I definitely thought more about plot. Honestly, I'm… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I try to think as little as possible, at least while working. I look at some of my early stories and can… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I think training your instinct comes from writing and reading. There's no big secret. And reading slush helps, as well; I'd recommend… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
Good writing, in my opinion, is writing that looks really easy, so easy that a person who has never written more than… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
Perhaps adding a line or two of dialogue to try to better capture an emotion. But I've found that if the story… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I also liked it when professors assigned us stories that they love. In general, I liked workshops more when they were more… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I think training your instinct comes from writing and reading. There's no big secret. And reading slush helps, as well; I'd recommend everyone edit… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
It's something that's difficult to explain but I think all writers work this way to some extent, whether we're aware of it or not.… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
There are many stories I've wanted to write that I'm simply not able to - sometimes I haven't found the way in yet, and… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I've learned so much from my professors and have been fortunate to have had so many good ones, including Frederick and Steven Barthelme, Edward… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I think there simply comes a point at which you're beating your head against the wall with revision, when you're making something different but… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I suppose this is, essentially, my perspective on life. Just because we've made mistakes and learned things from them intellectually doesn't mean we won't… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I've learned a lot about language from reading slush. You can immediately tell if a writer is in control of the narrative. This writer… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I wish I knew exactly who I was. I was talking to a friend earlier about the advice people give each other, advice like… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
It's definitely about the rhythm of the words and how they sound together, writing one sentence and then another and another and cutting something… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I don't know what people want, really. Does somebody have to die? What is meant by resolution? These are questions that I don't quite… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
Making all of those words work together is difficult. It took a lot of cleaning up, a lot of rewriting scenes in order to… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I want to be able to discuss craft but I also want to teach writers to trust their instincts and learn to listen to… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
![“I can't remember who said it - I think it was Allan Gurganus when he was visiting the Michener Center - but he told us to "spend [our] gold," meaning, put everything you have into a story. Other "gold" will be waiting for you for your next project.” quote by Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af5/mary-j-miller-21370_gold_i-can-t-remember-who-said-it-i-think-it_2281135.jpg)
