I've been simultaneously drawn to and repelled from Hollywood for years. Jess Walter More Quotes by Jess Walter More Quotes From Jess Walter I doubt the terrorists saw 9/11 as a teaching opportunity. And we're not really a culture geared to anything as humble as 'learning.' But I was disappointed in how quickly everyone wanted to get back to normal. It was as if we watched terrorism on TV for a while, then got bored and turned back to 'American Idol.' Jess Walter teaching humble opportunity At peace? Who but the insane would ever be at peace? What person who has enjoyed life could possibly think one is enough? Who could live even a day and not feel the sweet ache of regret? Jess Walter regret sweet thinking I pretty much drink a cup of coffee, write in my journal for a while, and then sit at a computer in my office and torture the keys. My one saving grace as a writer is that, if I'm having trouble with the novel I'm writing, I write something else, a poem or a short story. I try to avoid writer's block by always writing something. Jess Walter block coffee writing Maybe it's ALWAYS the end of the world. Maybe you're alive for a while, and then you realize you're going to die, and that's such an insane thing to comprehend, you look around for answers and the only answer is that the world must die with you. Jess Walter insane answers looks I come from a newspaper background, so maybe Im attuned to current events. Jess Walter currents newspapers events There was a time when self-promotion was considered so verboten, especially for authors. Jess Walter self-promotion promotion self The first seven years that I wrote fiction, I sent out stories and a novel and made a total of $25. Jess Walter stories fiction years I think most Hollywood meetings are silly and I truly despise pitching. It's insane to expect someone to come in and tell you the story before they've written it, and buying an idea from someone who can explain it rather than write it is like choosing a mechanic based on his ability to draw a picture of your car's problem. Jess Walter silly writing thinking I don't know a family that isn't touched by some sort of addiction. Jess Walter touched addiction knows I think suspense should be like any other color on a writers palette. I suppose Im in the minority but I think its crazy for literary fiction to divorce itself from stories that are suspenseful, and assign anything with cops or spies or criminals to some genre ghetto. Jess Walter divorce ghetto crazy All we have is the story we tell. Everything we do, every decision we make, our strength, weakness, motivation, history, and character-what we believe-none of it is real; it's all part of the story we tell. But here's the thing: it's our goddamned story! Jess Walter motivation real life You have to do disappointment twice. Jess Walter disappointment You take something from your past that you're somewhat ashamed about and you write about it from another character's point of view. Jess Walter writing character past All we have is the story we tell. Jess Walter stories What business does memory have with time? Jess Walter doe memories He considered it a shame when people couldn't grasp the infinite-a failure not just of imagination but of simple vision. Jess Walter imagination simple people I've been a dad since I was nineteen, so I think a lot about fatherhood and the power of that sacrifice in your life. Jess Walter sacrifice dad thinking He found himself in habiting the vast, empty plateau where most people live, between boredom and contentment. Jess Walter boredom contentment people He thought it might be the most intimate thing possible, to fall asleep next to someone in the afternoon. Jess Walter afternoon might fall And even if they don't find what they're looking for, isn't it enough to be out walking together in the sunlight? Jess Walter sunlight enough together
