How much research I have to do depends on the nature of the story. For fantasy, none at all. Alan Dean Foster More Quotes by Alan Dean Foster More Quotes From Alan Dean Foster The thing all writers do best is find ways to avoid writing. Alan Dean Foster writing way Living gives you a better understanding of life. I would hope that my characters have become deeper and more rounded personalities. Wider travels have given me considerably greater insight into how cultural differences affect not only people, but politics and art. Alan Dean Foster differences character art We're all nothing but unified arrangements of atoms and particles, drifting around, enjoying consciousness every now and then for a second or so before splitting up to become bits and pieces of trees and stars and french fries. Alan Dean Foster atoms stars tree Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting. Alan Dean Foster chaos freedom justice If you're crazy, there's two things you can do to make yourself feel better: One is to get yourself cured. The other is to make everyone you have to deal with crazy. Alan Dean Foster feel-better crazy two The universe is full of dead people who lived by assumption. Alan Dean Foster dead-people assumption people Keep writing. Try to do a little bit every day, even if the result looks like crap. Getting from page four to page five is more important than spending three weeks getting page four perfect. Alan Dean Foster important perfect writing Spontaneity is one of the joys of existence, especially if you prepare for it in advance. Alan Dean Foster planning spontaneity joy I hear entire symphonies, oratorios, in my head, but I can't write a note. Alan Dean Foster notes symphony writing Don't try to write to the trend of the moment. Alan Dean Foster trends writing trying In one book, CACHALOT, just for my own amusement, every character is based directly on someone I have known. Alan Dean Foster amusement character book In loquaciousness lay insanity. Alan Dean Foster lays insanity The overwhelming triumph of the international multimedia conglomerate has resulted in less diversity within the field and has made it much harder for newer writers not only to break in, but to make any kind of a living while doing so. Alan Dean Foster triumph diversity fields There's certainly more new SF available than when I started writing. That means there's also more bad SF available. Whether there is also more good is a matter for future historians of the field. Alan Dean Foster matter writing mean There is nothing in art, in philosophy, or in politics to match the fervor of mutual cooperation among discordant bands of fanatics. Alan Dean Foster band philosophy art I try to challenge myself as much as possible, as often as possible. Alan Dean Foster challenges trying Advances have fallen, generally, for everything except the biggest potential bestsellers. Given all the changes, both economic and technological, SF hasn't done too badly. Alan Dean Foster economic given done I write early in the morning, usually after reading portions of at least half a dozen newspapers on the web. Alan Dean Foster reading writing morning I've been writing full-time since 1978. Alan Dean Foster writing Dawn was written well before 9/11. People speak a lot today about the banality of evil, but not all evil is banal. Some of it is carefully structured and well-thought-out. That's where the real danger lies. Alan Dean Foster real lying people
