I was asked by an editor to consider writing something about an American inventor. I asked him if he knew who invented the computer. He said he didn't. In that case, I told him, I should write a book about John Vincent Atanasoff. Jane Smiley More Quotes by Jane Smiley More Quotes From Jane Smiley Eavesdrop and write it down from memory - gives you a stronger sense of how people talk and what their concerns are. I love to eavesdrop! Jane Smiley writing memories people Gossip. The more you talk about why people do things, the more ideas you have about how the world works. Jane Smiley gossip people ideas I don't know - is everything the U.S. does a shocking embarrassment? Jane Smiley embarrassment knows doe I think that the Cold War was an exceptional and unnecessary piece of cruelty. Jane Smiley pieces war thinking I thought I might write mysteries for the rest of my life. Jane Smiley mystery writing might If to live is to progress, if you are lucky, from foolishness to wisdom, then to write novels is to broadcast the various stages of your foolishness. Jane Smiley progress lucky writing In his 30 years of broadcasting and publishing fiction, Garrison Keillor has set the laugh bar pretty high. Jane Smiley bars laughing years Sinclair Lewis may be ripe for a revival; his books raise several interesting issues of art and fashion. Jane Smiley fashion book art In December 1998, I considered myself an expert on love. I was almost a year into a relationship, one that had grown more slowly than I had wished, but once it flowered it was much more stimulating than any marriage or relationship I had known. Jane Smiley december experts years I say, when your hair turns gray and your children think they know who you are, do the thing that shakes up who you think you are, even who you had prided yourself on being. When all those around you say they simply don't recognize you any longer, that's the real compliment. Jane Smiley real children thinking People with good intentions never give up! Jane Smiley good-intentions giving-up people With preference came point of view; with point of view, personality; with personality, uniqueness; with uniqueness, grief. Jane Smiley grief personality views As soon as you bring up money, I notice, conversation gets sociological, then political, then moral. Jane Smiley moral political conversation Giving his lecture for the third time freed Dr. Lionel Gift from paying much attention to it. He had a naturally expressive style of delivery, hones over the years in elementary-econ lecture halls. He knew, without even thinking, to address the middle rows of the hall, but to occasionally "shoot" the listeners in the back corners. He knew how to make eye contact and solicit the attention of those who were thinking of other things. Jane Smiley eye teaching thinking One of the things that Ivar knew about Mrs. Walker was that she would only tell him what she knew if he asked the right question, so he spent a portion of his time meditating over what he might ask Mrs. Walker and how he might phrase the question. Jane Smiley intelligence intellectual might Many said that now there was no hope of salvation, for a man might do anything and be in the wrong. There was no way to tell. It was better to stay on the steading and mind the cows and be content with such days as are left to one and cease to wonder about life everlasting. Jane Smiley mind men life After a long day, folk rest at night. After a long summer, folk play games and sit about in the winter. After a long life folk sit about the fire and stay warm, for the chill of death is upon them, and even the thickest bearskin can't keep off the shivering. Jane Smiley summer winter life Before I write a novel, images float around in my head that work like icons - they are meaningless in themselves, but serve as reminders. Jane Smiley reminders icons writing In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle contain it or stand against it. Jane Smiley success motivational inspirational A novelist has two lives-- a reading and writing life, and a lived life. he or she cannot be understood at all apart from this. Jane Smiley reading writing two
