I didn't read a serious book until I was 19. Richard Ford More Quotes by Richard Ford More Quotes From Richard Ford I wouldn't be a very good writer if someone hadn't taught me how to read. Richard Ford very-good taught good-writers When I write a novel I start each morning by reading for 20 minutes. Richard Ford reading writing morning To write you had to read so I backed into reading. Richard Ford reading writing I'm not one of those people who as a writer lets my characters tell me what they want to do or call to me or seek me. I go seeking for things, using them as an agent, really. Richard Ford agents character people It's interesting to leave a place, interesting even to think about it. Leaving reminds us of what we can part with and what we can't, then offers us something new to look forward to, to dream about. Richard Ford new place look think I work really hard at these books, and when colleagues write nasty reviews of them, I take it very personally. Richard Ford colleagues hard nasty work I don't hate children. My wife and I just didn't think we would be good parents, and also by the time we got married in 1968, we were pretty nose-down toward what we wanted to do, and having a child was going to be an excuse to fail. Richard Ford good wife time children Well, I believe in the idea of 'normal' in the way that I believe in the idea of logic. Or the idea of character. All of these ethical constructs are just that: constructs. Richard Ford logic character believe way Your father has to die, better he dies in your arms. Richard Ford your die better father I decided early on that I wanted to participate in the greater American experience, rather than the parochial one in Mississippi. But I have an urge as a writer to meld the Southern experience into the larger American one. Richard Ford than american early experience For a writer, children make life needlessly hard. I've muddled through a lot of things, but I have not muddled through my writing life. I work absolutely flat out, giving it my all. Richard Ford work giving life children If I could have married my wife and been a sports writer for the past 30 years, I wouldn't be sitting here - but I don't think I'd be sitting someplace where I was sorry to be sitting. Richard Ford wife sorry sports past I haven't scoured Dixie out of my voice. But I don't think that the books that I have written... have really in any way been Southern in character. Richard Ford think voice character way
