I became paralyzed as an artist with writer's block. David Guterson More Quotes by David Guterson More Quotes From David Guterson Well, I think it’s extraordinarily fun to write, and I look forward to it every day, but that doesn’t mean I think it’s easy. There’s a difference between the two. It’s fun in the way all worthwhile things are fun – there’s difficulty attached to it. I think that a writer has to accept a certain amount of frustration. It’s inherent in the task, and you have to simply persevere. It’s part of the definition of the work. David Guterson writing fun mean At one level you're condemned to the voice you have. But within those confines, you have a certain amount of freedom to range among your possible voices. David Guterson range levels voice There are things in this universe that we cannot control, and then there are the things we can. . . . Let fate, coincidence, and accident conspire; human beings must act on reason. David Guterson cedars fate coincidence He didn't like very many people any more, or very many things either. He preferred not to be this way, but there it was, he was like that. His cynicism, a veteran's cynicism, was a thing that disturbed him all the time. David Guterson veteran people way The strange thing was, he wanted to like everyone. He just couldn't find a way to do it. David Guterson strange wanted way Everybody has a world, and that world is completely hidden until we begin to inquire. As soon as we do, that entire world opens to us and yields itself. And you see how full and complex it is. David Guterson complexes yield world accident ruled every corner of the universe except the chambers of the human heart. David Guterson cedars humans heart None of those other things makes a difference. Love is the strongest thing in the world, you know. Nothing can touch it. Nothing comes close. If we love each other we're safe from it all. Love is the biggest thing there is. David Guterson making-a-difference differences love-is Fiction is socially meaningful. David Guterson meaningful fiction I know you'll think this is crazy, but all I want to do is hold you, and I think that if you'll let me do that just for a few seconds, I can walk away, and never speak to you again. David Guterson cedars crazy thinking When it comes time to sit down and write the next book, you're deathly afraid that you're not up to the task. That was certainly the case with me after Snow Falling on Cedars. David Guterson falling-in-love writing book I write because something inner and unconscious forces me to. That is the first compulsion. The second is one of ethical and moral duty. I feel responsible to tell stories that inspire readers to consider more deeply who they are. David Guterson writing inspire firsts I think you have an obligation to share what you know as a writer. David Guterson obligation share thinking Writing became an obsessive compulsive habit but I had almost no money so I thought about being an urban firefighter and having lots of free time in which to write or becoming an English teacher and thinking about books and writers on a daily basis. That swayed me. David Guterson writing teacher book I was born in Washington State and have lived here for 42 plus years. David Guterson washington-state literature years I'm interested in themes that endure from generation to generation. David Guterson theme generations literature I'm not an urban person. David Guterson urban persons literature Post-modernism is dead because it didn't address human needs. David Guterson addresses literature needs What sustains me is to be with my family and to write. David Guterson my-family writing You should learn to say nothing that will cause you regret. You should not say what is not in your heart - or what is only in your heart for a moment. But you know this - silence is better. David Guterson regret silence heart