---
title: "54 Trying Quotes By George Saunders"
description: "54 Trying quotes by George Saunders. Plus more from George Saunders and more Trying sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/george-saunders-317_anything-is-possible_don-t-be-afraid-to-be-confused-try-to-re_793315.jpg"
---

> [Don't be afraid to be confused. Try to remain permanently confused. Anything is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/don-t-be-afraid-to-be-confused-try-to-remain-permanently-confused/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/george-saunders-317_anything-is-possible_don-t-be-afraid-to-be-confused-try-to-re_793315.jpg)

> [With nonfiction, I go in trying to be really honest about what my preconceptions are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/with-nonfiction-i-go-in-trying-to-be-really-honest-about-what-my/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/george-saunders-317_honest_with-nonfiction-i-go-in-trying-to-be-rea_2096897.jpg)

> [Life is short, very short, and what are we doing here if not trying to become more generous and loving?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/life-is-short-very-short-and-what-are-we-doing-here-if-not-trying-to/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/george-saunders-317_generous_life-is-short-very-short-and-what-are-we_1851742.jpg)

> [I try to keep my artistic opinions not so much "to myself" but "on myself."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-try-to-keep-my-artistic-opinions-not-so-much-to-myself-but-on-myself/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/george-saunders-317_art_i-try-to-keep-my-artistic-opinions-not-s_2595153.jpg)

> [I know that my only chance at any kind of depth or profundity is to linger within the story, trying to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-know-that-my-only-chance-at-any-kind-of-depth-or-profundity-is-to/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/760/george-saunders-317_chance_i-know-that-my-only-chance-at-any-kind-o_2731534.jpg)

> [I have a lot of theories about the beneficial effects of fiction, but I'm always trying to get away from them a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-have-a-lot-of-theories-about-the-beneficial-effects-of-fiction-but/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/george-saunders-317_always-trying_i-have-a-lot-of-theories-about-the-benef_3198322.jpg)

> [I've seen time and time again the way that the process of trying to say something dignifies and improves a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-ve-seen-time-and-time-again-the-way-that-the-process-of-trying-to/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/george-saunders-317_improves_i-ve-seen-time-and-time-again-the-way-th_531535.jpg)

> [We try, we fail, we posture, we aspire, we pontificate - and then we age, shrink, die, and vanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-try-we-fail-we-posture-we-aspire-we-pontificate-and-then-we-age/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/george-saunders-317_age_we-try-we-fail-we-posture-we-aspire-we-p_35055.jpg)

> [When somebody you've known for 20 years, and with whom you have a full context, winks at you or whatever, it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/when-somebody-you-ve-known-for-20-years-and-with-whom-you-have-a-full/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/george-saunders-317_fiction_when-somebody-you-ve-known-for-20-years_1318156.jpg)

> [ I'm not thinking in any big thematic or conceptual terms - especially in this book \[Lincoln in the Bardo\] when I was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-m-not-thinking-in-any-big-thematic-or-conceptual-terms-especially/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2be/george-saunders-317_active_i-m-not-thinking-in-any-big-thematic-or_1219393.jpg)

> [In my case, when I am trying to be "kind" I often default in a sort of toothless loving-all stance that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-my-case-when-i-am-trying-to-be-kind-i-often-default-in-a-sort-of/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/george-saunders-317_be-kind_in-my-case-when-i-am-trying-to-be-kind-i_23597.jpg)

> [Don't be afraid to be confused. Try to remain permanently confused. Anything is possible. Stay open, forever, so open it hurts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/don-t-be-afraid-to-be-confused-try-to-remain-permanently-confused-2/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/george-saunders-317_amen_don-t-be-afraid-to-be-confused-try-to-re_2825062.jpg)

> [Just through the process of trying to make the living and the dead feel real, all these little benefits came out. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/just-through-the-process-of-trying-to-make-the-living-and-the-dead/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/617/george-saunders-317_believe_just-through-the-process-of-trying-to-ma_1909450.jpg)

> [I'm turning 58, and you get that kind of weird, old-guy feeling of you don't have an infinite number of years left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-m-turning-58-and-you-get-that-kind-of-weird-old-guy-feeling-of-you/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/george-saunders-317_feelings_i-m-turning-58-and-you-get-that-kind-of_2074443.jpg)

> [The one thing fiction and non-fiction writing have in common for me is that sense of trying to get the sentences to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-one-thing-fiction-and-non-fiction-writing-have-in-common-for-me/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/george-saunders-317_common_the-one-thing-fiction-and-non-fiction-wr_911917.jpg)

> [In my personal and spiritual life, I reject that. I don't believe in that. I'm always trying to get my mind into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-my-personal-and-spiritual-life-i-reject-that-i-don-t-believe-in/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/george-saunders-317_always-trying_in-my-personal-and-spiritual-life-i-reje_1107761.jpg)

> [One lesson I learned the hard way, early in my career, was that if I tried to write to be smart or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/one-lesson-i-learned-the-hard-way-early-in-my-career-was-that-if-i/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35a/george-saunders-317_being-smart_one-lesson-i-learned-the-hard-way-early_2452264.jpg)

> [I'm not sure I would call it agony but there is a kind of cyclic frustration. You get one story right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-m-not-sure-i-would-call-it-agony-but-there-is-a-kind-of-cyclic/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/383/george-saunders-317_agony_i-m-not-sure-i-would-call-it-agony-but-t_1073884.jpg)

> [I came to writing kind of late. I was an engineer, and the one thing I've learned is that you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-came-to-writing-kind-of-late-i-was-an-engineer-and-the-one-thing-i/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/george-saunders-317_energy_i-came-to-writing-kind-of-late-i-was-an_1331652.jpg)

> [My general approach to writing fiction is that you try to have as few conceptual notions as possible and you just respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/my-general-approach-to-writing-fiction-is-that-you-try-to-have-as-few/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/george-saunders-317_approach_my-general-approach-to-writing-fiction-i_3208933.jpg)

> [I don't know how you feel, but I feel like writing, clarity of thought, and truth have been validated because we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-don-t-know-how-you-feel-but-i-feel-like-writing-clarity-of-thought/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/george-saunders-317_agitate_i-don-t-know-how-you-feel-but-i-feel-lik_462338.jpg)

> [I don't think much new ever happens. Most of us spend our days the same way people spent their days in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-don-t-think-much-new-ever-happens-most-of-us-spend-our-days-the/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/george-saunders-317_beautiful_i-don-t-think-much-new-ever-happens-most_1396123.jpg)

> [If you have a friend, what's the best way you can experience her beauty? It's to really accept her. She's weird in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/if-you-have-a-friend-what-s-the-best-way-you-can-experience-her/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/george-saunders-317_accepting_if-you-have-a-friend-what-s-the-best-way_415923.jpg)

> [It seems to me a worthy goal: try to create a representation of consciousness that's durable and truthful, i.e., that accounts, somewhat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/it-seems-to-me-a-worthy-goal-try-to-create-a-representation-of/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b70/george-saunders-317_accounts_it-seems-to-me-a-worthy-goal-try-to-crea_2826517.jpg)

> [It's one thing to be a perfectionist when you're alone, but when you're trying to make it work in an ensemble that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-perfectionist-when-you-re-alone-but-when-you/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/george-saunders-317_deals_it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-perfectionist-whe_392234.jpg)

> [When you're embarking on a piece of writing, the anxiety is just too much, especially when you're young and you're trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/when-you-re-embarking-on-a-piece-of-writing-the-anxiety-is-just-too/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/george-saunders-317_anxiety_when-you-re-embarking-on-a-piece-of-writ_624905.jpg)

> [I'm trying to read/edit my story as if I have no existing knowledge of the story, no investment in it, no sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-m-trying-to-read-edit-my-story-as-if-i-have-no-existing-knowledge/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/george-saunders-317_books_i-m-trying-to-read-edit-my-story-as-if-i_350427.jpg)

> [Writing a story I am just trying to find some little interesting thing to start out with: something small, even trivial. Preferably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/writing-a-story-i-am-just-trying-to-find-some-little-interesting/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/george-saunders-317_baggage_writing-a-story-i-am-just-trying-to-find_766056.jpg)

> [If you at least try to do the things that excite you, it will make you a more expansive and present person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/if-you-at-least-try-to-do-the-things-that-excite-you-it-will-make-you/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/202/george-saunders-317_ends_if-you-at-least-try-to-do-the-things-tha_957895.jpg)

> [I guess what I'm trying to say is that whatever weirdness was going to be in there, I felt, had to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-guess-what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-whatever-weirdness-was-going/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/george-saunders-317_book_i-guess-what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-w_2218783.jpg)

> [The writer, in order to proceed, is theoretically trying to predict where his complex skein of language and image has left his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-writer-in-order-to-proceed-is-theoretically-trying-to-predict/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/george-saunders-317_books_the-writer-in-order-to-proceed-is-theore_82564.jpg)

> [As a writer I'm essentially just trying to impersonate a first-time reader, who picks up the story and has to decide, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/as-a-writer-i-m-essentially-just-trying-to-impersonate-a-first-time/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/george-saunders-317_books_as-a-writer-i-m-essentially-just-trying_2585669.jpg)

> [The writer has to make pleasure for the reader - which, I think, is done by taking one's character's seriously and taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-writer-has-to-make-pleasure-for-the-reader-which-i-think-is-done/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/george-saunders-317_books_the-writer-has-to-make-pleasure-for-the_638191.jpg)

> [I've also found that trying to be active with social media changes my moment-to-moment perceptions. Instead of feeling, "What's the deepest version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-ve-also-found-that-trying-to-be-active-with-social-media-changes-my/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/george-saunders-317_active_i-ve-also-found-that-trying-to-be-active_811722.jpg)

> [My go-to default is to try to be nice, which I feel does less harm in the long run than trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/my-go-to-default-is-to-try-to-be-nice-which-i-feel-does-less-harm-in/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/george-saunders-317_assertive_my-go-to-default-is-to-try-to-be-nice-wh_1352742.jpg)

> [My idea about collections is that you write as hard as you can for some period and what you're really doing during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/my-idea-about-collections-is-that-you-write-as-hard-as-you-can-for/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/george-saunders-317_collections_my-idea-about-collections-is-that-you-wr_1660847.jpg)

> [In a sense my whole life as a writer is trying to find structural ways, or formal ways, to permit that outflowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-a-sense-my-whole-life-as-a-writer-is-trying-to-find-structural/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/george-saunders-317_can-do_in-a-sense-my-whole-life-as-a-writer-is_332037.jpg)

> [I am trying to remember that things have certainly been crazier in human history and they may get crazier here and now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-am-trying-to-remember-that-things-have-certainly-been-crazier-in/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/george-saunders-317_being-optimistic_i-am-trying-to-remember-that-things-have_2850464.jpg)

> [My mind goes really quickly and I tend to talk really fast, as you've probably heard, I sometimes lose track of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/my-mind-goes-really-quickly-and-i-tend-to-talk-really-fast-as-you-ve/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/george-saunders-317_imagine_my-mind-goes-really-quickly-and-i-tend-t_671334.jpg)

> [It really was something, to see Ram Bahadur Bomjon, apparently living without food or water. Before I went on that trip I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/it-really-was-something-to-see-ram-bahadur-bomjon-apparently-living/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/george-saunders-317_advice_it-really-was-something-to-see-ram-bahad_1588284.jpg)

## Other authors on Trying

## More by George Saunders

> [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“Wow wow wow is all I can say! Remember how I always buy lunchtime Scratch-Off ticket? Have I said? Maybe did not say? Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/wow-wow-wow-is-all-i-can-say-remember-how-i-always-buy-lunchtime/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“None of it was real; nothing was real. Everything was real; inconceivably real, infinitely dear. These and all things started as nothing, latent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-everything-was-real/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“We must see God not as a Him (some linear rewarding fellow) but an IT, a great beast beyond our understanding, who wants something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-must-see-god-not-as-a-him-some-linear-rewarding-fellow-but-an-it-a/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [America, to me, should be shouting all the time, a bunch of shouting voices, most of them wrong, some of them nuts, but please,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/america-to-me-should-be-shouting-all-the-time-a-bunch-of-shouting/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [In my case, when I am trying to be "kind" I often default in a sort of toothless loving-all stance that is, actually, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-my-case-when-i-am-trying-to-be-kind-i-often-default-in-a-sort-of/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [Whatever your supposed politics are - left, right - if you put it in a human connection, most people will rise to the occasion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/whatever-your-supposed-politics-are-left-right-if-you-put-it-in-a/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“A Clinton staffer tells me his theory. Think about Frank Sinatra, he says: born to sing. Think about Willie Mays: born to play ball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/a-clinton-staffer-tells-me-his-theory-think-about-frank-sinatra-he/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [We try, we fail, we posture, we aspire, we pontificate - and then we age, shrink, die, and vanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-try-we-fail-we-posture-we-aspire-we-pontificate-and-then-we-age/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [What America is, to me, is a guy doesn't want to buy, you let him not buy, you respect his not buying. A guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-america-is-to-me-is-a-guy-doesn-t-want-to-buy-you-let-him-not/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [What good the prophet in the wilderness may do is incremental and personal. It's good for us to hear someone speak the irrational truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-good-the-prophet-in-the-wilderness-may-do-is-incremental-and/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [We're in the transition between birth and death. But the one that people often know about is the transition between the moment of death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-re-in-the-transition-between-birth-and-death-but-the-one-that/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [You don't want to be that parent - the one who dresses his kid in a cloth sack when all the other kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-don-t-want-to-be-that-parent-the-one-who-dresses-his-kid-in-a/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

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                        "text": "In my personal and spiritual life, I reject that. I don't believe in that. I'm always trying to get my mind into a less judgmental place, making less rigid judgments about things like \"perverse\" versus \"pure.\" But in terms of prose, those sorts of oppositions seem to work.",
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                        "text": "One lesson I learned the hard way, early in my career, was that if I tried to write to be smart or to convey a theme or from some existing plan, the result was usually pretty boring. My intuitive move, whenever I'm considering writing something, is to steer towards what feels enjoyable. Another way of saying it is, you just try to avoid the \"sucky.\" If you start to think of a story and a way to tell it, and your reaction is kind of like, Ugh, that's going to be hard, then you don't want to do that.",
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                        "text": "I'm not sure I would call it agony but there is a kind of cyclic frustration. You get one story right and then here comes another one. When does that end? What I'm trying to do is get it to end right now, by recognizing that that cycle is writing. That is: trying to understand the frustrations and setbacks (and agony) as part of a bigger chess game you are playing with art itself.",
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                        "text": "I came to writing kind of late. I was an engineer, and the one thing I've learned is that you have to steer a project in the direction of the maximum fun for you. You could say lively energy, or you have to try to be intrigued. Basically, if you were a musician and you were playing joylessly, nobody would want to hear you.",
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                        "text": "My general approach to writing fiction is that you try to have as few conceptual notions as possible and you just respond to the energy that the story is making rather than having a big over plan. I think if you have a big over plan, the danger is that you might just take your plan and then you bore everybody. I always joke that it's like going on a date with index cards. You know, at 7:30 p.m. I should ask about her mother. You keep all the control to yourself but you are kind of insulting to the other person.",
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                        "text": "I don't know how you feel, but I feel like writing, clarity of thought, and truth have been validated because we see what happens when we get lax in those areas. I'm excited by the idea that writers like us can actually reach out and try to understand and prod and agitate the people who are in support of Trump because we have the tools to do it. We're language people and we're idea people.",
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                        "text": "I don't think much new ever happens. Most of us spend our days the same way people spent their days in the year 1000: walking around smiling, trying to earn enough to eat, while neurotically doing these little self-proofs in our head about how much better we are than these other slobs, while simultaneously, in another part of our brain, secretly feeling woefully inadequate to these smarter, more beautiful people.",
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                        "text": "If you have a friend, what's the best way you can experience her beauty? It's to really accept her. She's weird in this way, I accept it. She's hard to talk to, I accept it. Then that person eventually will come all the way out into the sun. I think it's the same way with our talent. We say, \"Look, I'm not going to judge you. I'm going to try to use you in the very best way.\"",
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                        "text": "It seems to me a worthy goal: try to create a representation of consciousness that's durable and truthful, i.e., that accounts, somewhat, for all the strange, tiny, hard-to-articulate, instantaneous, unwilled things that actually go on in our minds in the course of a given day, or even a given moment.",
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                        "text": "It's one thing to be a perfectionist when you're alone, but when you're trying to make it work in an ensemble that's a whole different deal.",
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                        "text": "When you're embarking on a piece of writing, the anxiety is just too much, especially when you're young and you're trying to figure out if this is your thing or not. You feel like, \"if I don't write a good story, I gotta get going to law school!\"",
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                        "text": "I'm trying to read/edit my story as if I have no existing knowledge of the story, no investment in it, no sense of what Herculean effort went into writing page 23, no pretensions as to why the dull patch on page 4 is important for the fireworks that will happen on page 714.",
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                        "text": "Writing a story I am just trying to find some little interesting thing to start out with: something small, even trivial. Preferably something that doesn't have a lot of thematic or political baggage - a little crumb that is interesting.",
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                        "text": "If you at least try to do the things that excite you, it will make you a more expansive and present person - you’ll feel, at the end of your life, that at least you took the shot.",
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                        "text": "I guess what I'm trying to say is that whatever weirdness was going to be in there, I felt, had to be earned. And it had to be required by the emotional needs of the book.",
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                        "text": "In a sense my whole life as a writer is trying to find structural ways, or formal ways, to permit that outflowing so it doesn't just look like crazy output. In other words, if it turns out that you can do a given voice, that's just kind of inclination. But then if you can find a way to put that voice in a story so that the voice serves a purpose, then I would say that's being a writer.",
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                        "text": "I am trying to remember that things have certainly been crazier in human history and they may get crazier here and now, and [here I am trying to be optimistic] it's even a good thing, to be going through all of this, if only to be reminded that history hasn't stopped - human existence is as fundamentally unmanageable now as it ever was.",
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                        "text": "It really was something, to see Ram Bahadur Bomjon, apparently living without food or water. Before I went on that trip I'd asked advice on it from a very wise person who I love and revere - basically trying to see if I was somehow disrespecting Buddhism by trying to write about it, and also looking for some grounding on what stance to take ... and my friend said, \"Well, why don't you just go and see?\" And I hear that in my head all the time now: \"Why don't you go and see?\"",
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