I am very indebted to southern writers and not just Flannery O'Connor. Also Harry Crews, Larry Brown, Tennessee Williams, Barry Hannah and William Gay. Donald Ray Pollock More Quotes by Donald Ray Pollock More Quotes From Donald Ray Pollock I started going to Ohio University when I was in my mid-thirties, ended up with an English degree when I was forty. Donald Ray Pollock university ohio degrees I'm not sure I would have ever decided to try to write when I was forty-five if I hadn't already gotten that degree [in English]. Donald Ray Pollock degrees writing trying [Degree in English] gave me a little more self-confidence, to know that I'd managed to complete something like that. Donald Ray Pollock self-confidence degrees littles Probably because I personally knew at least six or seven people in Ross County who died from overdoses in the last three years. The heroin epidemic is just too aggravating and sad and unsettling for even someone like me to live with and think about for the time it would take to write a book dealing with it. Donald Ray Pollock writing book thinking It depends on what your dream might be, as to whether or not it's still possible when you're, say, fifty or sixty. You won't ever pitch for the big leagues, for example. But I believe anyone, regardless of age, can write if he or she is willing to do the work, and I'm talking about spending at least an hour or two at it almost every day for five to ten years. Donald Ray Pollock dream writing believe Though there are still many good people out there in the world, it seems that they're vastly outnumbered by the stupid, selfish, violent ones. Donald Ray Pollock selfish stupid people I've always been a bit of a pessimist in regard to mankind. Donald Ray Pollock pessimist regard mankind I think my characters - well, at least a few of them - are hoping or searching for some kind of contact with god. Donald Ray Pollock kind character thinking I think some people at Doubleday worried about that a bit when Knockemstiff came out, but, with the exception of one or two people who complained that I didn't do justice to the many good people who lived in the holler, most of the local objections have been aimed at the violence and foul language. Donald Ray Pollock two people thinking I'm always doubting my work, even when people are kind enough to say good things. I still have a hard time believing I've written some books, let alone that they've actually done pretty well. Donald Ray Pollock hard-times believe book As for how I feel about any success I've had, I just feel extremely lucky. Writing is a tough racket, and there are a lot of writers out there better than me who can't seem to catch a break. Donald Ray Pollock tough lucky writing Religion can be a good thing, but basically the way I look at it is that it provides a moral code, common sense. But then people distort it and use it as an excuse to be a bully. It's sad, but that's the way it's worked for a several thousand years now. Donald Ray Pollock common-sense bully people I do believe the world is a pretty sad, troubled, and violent place. Maybe that's why I focus on the trouble. Even though there are good people and good things, there's also a bunch of messed up stuff. And I learned early on, you have to have some trouble in your stories. I definitely go overboard on that, but I have a lot more fun writing about the trouble. Donald Ray Pollock writing fun believe It's very easy for me to feel sympathy for people who are messed up. It's not that I'm a pseudo-saint or a great person. I had a lot of trouble with drugs and alcohol when I was younger, and I know how easy it can be to mess up the rest of your life. One bad turn, one bad night, one big mistake, and everything is screwed up. Or maybe you were just born in the wrong house and raised in a bad way. I guess I can understand. Donald Ray Pollock mistake night people You're always hoping you can attract a bigger audience, but at the same time, I'd hate to give up what I write. If I could write Chick Lit or something like that and make money off it, that'd be great. But I just can't do it. Donald Ray Pollock giving-up hate writing I've always liked reading books that contain funny lines or situations, and maybe because my work is known chiefly for its violence and misery, I made a more conscious attempt with The Heavenly Table to do that myself. Donald Ray Pollock lines reading book I've never heard of that anthology [Vance Randolph, Pissing in the Snow], but you can be sure I'll buy it now. Donald Ray Pollock anthology heard snow I think the biggest influence on the book, as far as the humor goes, comes, at least indirectly, from the men I worked with in the paper mill. Some of them could make a dog laugh. Donald Ray Pollock dog men book I really have no idea where the darkness comes from. Other writers have said that there are two subjects worth writing about, love and death; and since I'm a complete flop when it comes to love, I chose death. Too, maybe because of where I came from, I do find it easy to empathise with and write about certain groups of damaged or downtrodden people: the poor, the addicted. Donald Ray Pollock darkness writing people I don't think writing fiction has changed my worldview. Donald Ray Pollock writing fiction thinking
