American Quote by Colum McCann

Evidently, there are many great American writers. But sometimes it can feel as though American fiction is dominated by relatively linear narrative form, with…

— Katie Kitamura

I wish every American explored the importance of novel writing, identity, honesty, character and place in fresh-ass ways.

— Kiese Laymon

The American writer is a very pampered figure - by foundations, by fellowships, by publishing advances. Even though I am not American, I have…

— Pankaj Mishra

To me, the contemporary novel suffers from a lack of sense of place - or spirit of place, if you will. It's not important…

— Lawrence Osborne

I consider myself a writer who writes about American expatriates. And if I have any overt cause as a writer besides writing the best…

— Bob Shacochis

There's no lack of writers writing novels in America, about America. Therefore, it seems to me it would be wasteful for me to add…

— Chinua Achebe

There are many reasons why novelists write, but they all have one thing in common - a need to create an alternative world.

— John Fowles

Everyone assumes that novelists are smarter and more interesting. They're generally smarter and more interesting, but they're often very short. So it kind of…

— Liev Schreiber

“I think distance also helps me gain an certain critical perspective that's essential for good writing. It makes it possible to be more truthful…

— Thrity Umrigar

If you just sit there, and you're a writer, you're bound to write crap. A lot of American writing is crap. And a lot…

— Jamaica Kincaid

Every novelist has a different purpose-and often several purposes which might even be contradictory.

— Irwin Shaw

A downside to being a successful novelist? Wow - I can't imagine one.

— Andrew Sean Greer