I keep trying to write happy endings, but my books always end on more of a bittersweet note of ambiguity. Stephen McCauley More Quotes by Stephen McCauley More Quotes From Stephen McCauley The experience of writing under a pseudonym was tremendously liberating; I could write what I wanted. Stephen McCauley writeexperiencewantedwriting I write in public libraries and sometimes coffee shops. I can't write at home and gave up trying long ago. I need activity around me that I'm forced to block out. It helps me focus. Stephen McCauley mefocuscoffeehome The book that made me cry hardest was 'Stoner,' by John Williams. Stephen McCauley mecryhardestbook I wrote two novels about a yoga studio in Los Angeles published by Penguin under the pen name Rain Mitchell. Stephen McCauley pennameraintwo I think libraries give the feeling that people are there to work. It's a little bit like an artist's colony in the sense that there's some sort of shared experience. There's respect for quiet, more or less, but otherwise, there's activity. Stephen McCauley respectexperienceworkpeople I'm not a particularly disciplined person in terms of my work habits. Stephen McCauley termshabitspersonwork I loved Victoria Glendinning's bio of Vita Sackville-West. I also loved Michael Holroyd's immense biography of Lytton Strachey. Stephen McCauley biobiographyalsoloved I have always had someone in my life that I consider my reading mentor because I come from a family where reading was not emphasized or even approved of. Stephen McCauley my-lifefamilyreadinglife If you aren't a reader and you have a kid with his face buried in books, it can be a bit threatening. My parents viewed my reading as somewhat effeminate, but also subversive on some level. Stephen McCauley faceparentsyoureading My partner and I weed through our bookshelves and throw stuff out regularly. Stephen McCauley partneroutthroughweed It's hard to imagine anyone accusing Lionel Shriver of being a timid writer. Stephen McCauley timidbeinghardimagine Early on, I got some criticism from other gay writers and queer theorists for being too 'assimilationist,' probably because my characters are outsiders, even in the gay world. Stephen McCauley beinggaycriticismworld I wish I could calculate my way to a bigger audience, but I don't think I'm smart enough. Actually, I don't think anyone is smart enough. Most calculations along those lines fail. Stephen McCauley thinksmartwishway I guess I have an aversion to writing about big events and heroic actions. The everyday has always seemed most important to me in writing, probably because I believe people reveal themselves in how they deal with small details. Stephen McCauley meimportantbelievepeople It's really fun to write something for kids. You can make it a little bit more extreme and crazy than you would for adults. Stephen McCauley somethingyoucrazyfun When you're sitting in the theater watching your own work be performed, you get to see people's reactions immediately. Unlike with a book, you don't have to wait for responses. That's very satisfying. Unless it's a joke that falls flat. Stephen McCauley waityouworkpeople The only responsible way to write about anything is with honesty. Stephen McCauley anythingonlyhonestyway When you're laughing aloud at David Sedaris' every sentence, it's easy to miss the more serious side of what he's up to. Stephen McCauley missyouseriouseasy Jill Eisenstadt's comic second novel, 'Kiss Out,' is a work of such extravagant wackiness, eccentricity, and exuberance that any attempt to squeeze it into the confines of a simple plot summary seems doomed to failure and is possibly pointless. Stephen McCauley kissfailuresimplework Jill Eisenstadt is a writer of many admirable gifts. Foremost among them are a sharp eye for people, a playful love of language, and, it's probably safe to assume, nearly boundless energy. Stephen McCauley languageeyelovepeople
