Alienation Quote by Nelson Algren

“A certain ruthlessness and a sense of alienation from society is as essential to creative writing as it is to armed robbery.”

— Nelson Algren

Writing a novel is one of those modern rites of passage, I think, that lead us from an innocent world of contentment, drunkenness, and…

— J. G. Ballard

Writing novels preserves you in a state of innocence - a lot passes you by - simply because your attention is otherwise diverted.

— Anita Brookner

“Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end it's about enriching the lives of those…

— Stephen King

Writing a novel is like knocking on a door that will never open. You are so desperate to get in, you will say or…

— Samantha Shannon

“...writers are a savage breed, Mr. Strike. If you want life-long friendship and selfless camaraderie, join the army and learn to kill. If you…

— Robert Galbraith

“People without hope do not write novels … [Writing fiction] is a plunge into reality and it’s very shocking to the system. If the…

— Flannery O'Connor

The luxury of time to write, and the confidence to do so, make it easier for the more affluent and when the most decorated…

— Dawn Foster

Novelists are no more moral or certain than anybody else; we are ideologically adrift, and if we are any good then our writing will…

— Andrew O'Hagan

Novel-writing is a highly skilled and laborious trade. One does not just sit behind a screen jotting down other people's conversation. One has for…

— Evelyn Waugh

A lot of novels use crime as a stepping stone to talk about greater issues. So I just think of myself as a writer.

— Karin Slaughter

Writing a novel that works is an extremely difficult thing to do. It requires a level of skill and dedication that always surprises me.

— Bret Easton Ellis