I loved Victoria Glendinning's bio of Vita Sackville-West. I also loved Michael Holroyd's immense biography of Lytton Strachey. Stephen McCauley More Quotes by Stephen McCauley More Quotes From Stephen McCauley I keep trying to write happy endings, but my books always end on more of a bittersweet note of ambiguity. Stephen McCauley end always happy trying The experience of writing under a pseudonym was tremendously liberating; I could write what I wanted. Stephen McCauley write experience wanted writing I write in public libraries and sometimes coffee shops. I can't write at home and gave up trying long ago. I need activity around me that I'm forced to block out. It helps me focus. Stephen McCauley me focus coffee home The book that made me cry hardest was 'Stoner,' by John Williams. Stephen McCauley me cry hardest book I wrote two novels about a yoga studio in Los Angeles published by Penguin under the pen name Rain Mitchell. Stephen McCauley pen name rain two I think libraries give the feeling that people are there to work. It's a little bit like an artist's colony in the sense that there's some sort of shared experience. There's respect for quiet, more or less, but otherwise, there's activity. Stephen McCauley respect experience work people I'm not a particularly disciplined person in terms of my work habits. Stephen McCauley terms habits person work I have always had someone in my life that I consider my reading mentor because I come from a family where reading was not emphasized or even approved of. Stephen McCauley my-life family reading life If you aren't a reader and you have a kid with his face buried in books, it can be a bit threatening. My parents viewed my reading as somewhat effeminate, but also subversive on some level. Stephen McCauley face parents you reading My partner and I weed through our bookshelves and throw stuff out regularly. Stephen McCauley partner out through weed It's hard to imagine anyone accusing Lionel Shriver of being a timid writer. Stephen McCauley timid being hard imagine Early on, I got some criticism from other gay writers and queer theorists for being too 'assimilationist,' probably because my characters are outsiders, even in the gay world. Stephen McCauley being gay criticism world I wish I could calculate my way to a bigger audience, but I don't think I'm smart enough. Actually, I don't think anyone is smart enough. Most calculations along those lines fail. Stephen McCauley think smart wish way I guess I have an aversion to writing about big events and heroic actions. The everyday has always seemed most important to me in writing, probably because I believe people reveal themselves in how they deal with small details. Stephen McCauley me important believe people It's really fun to write something for kids. You can make it a little bit more extreme and crazy than you would for adults. Stephen McCauley something you crazy fun When you're sitting in the theater watching your own work be performed, you get to see people's reactions immediately. Unlike with a book, you don't have to wait for responses. That's very satisfying. Unless it's a joke that falls flat. Stephen McCauley wait you work people The only responsible way to write about anything is with honesty. Stephen McCauley anything only honesty way When you're laughing aloud at David Sedaris' every sentence, it's easy to miss the more serious side of what he's up to. Stephen McCauley miss you serious easy Jill Eisenstadt's comic second novel, 'Kiss Out,' is a work of such extravagant wackiness, eccentricity, and exuberance that any attempt to squeeze it into the confines of a simple plot summary seems doomed to failure and is possibly pointless. Stephen McCauley kiss failure simple work Jill Eisenstadt is a writer of many admirable gifts. Foremost among them are a sharp eye for people, a playful love of language, and, it's probably safe to assume, nearly boundless energy. Stephen McCauley language eye love people
