I was not a writer to begin with; I was a listener. Erskine Caldwell More Quotes by Erskine Caldwell More Quotes From Erskine Caldwell Many Southern writers must have learned the art of storytelling from listening to oral tales. I did. It gave me the knowledge that the simplest incident can make a story. Erskine Caldwell southern listening art I think you must remember that a writer is a simple-minded person to begin with and go on that basis. He's not a great mind, he's not a great thinker, he's not a great philosopher, he's a story-teller. Erskine Caldwell simple writing thinking I think acceptance of human rights is going to progress from one day to the next. I don't think there's going to be any violent revolution about the whole thing anywhere. Of course, it looks like it every once in a while. You hear about it on television and in newspapers: riots here and there. But that is a passing phase. Erskine Caldwell acceptance rights thinking Influence is a very tenuous matter. I try to avoid it in every respect. I don't want to be influenced by anybody. Erskine Caldwell matter want trying To me there is no such thing as creative writing. It's either good writing, whatever the subject, or it's not creative. Erskine Caldwell subjects creative writing I'm not interested in plots. I'm interested only in the characterization of people and what they do. Erskine Caldwell not-interested plot people
