It's important, I think, for a writer of fiction to maintain an awareness of the pace and shape of the book as he's writing it. That is, he should be making an object, not chattering. Thomas Perry More Quotes by Thomas Perry More Quotes From Thomas Perry Reading a novel in which all characters illustrate patience, hard work, chastity, and delayed gratification could be a pretty dull experience. Thomas Perry hard-work reading patience I don't think the problem is that people don't read enough mystery books, but that people don't read. Thomas Perry book people thinking I had been writing fiction since I was in eighth grade, because I loved it. Thomas Perry grades writing fiction I held a variety of jobs - most notably ten years working in universities - and kept on writing. Thomas Perry writing jobs years If I don't have a project going, I sit down and begin to write something - a character sketch, a monologue, a description of some sight, or even just a list of ideas. Thomas Perry sight writing character If you'll think about various series you've read, can you think of any instance in which, say, the tenth volume of the series is notably better than the first nine? I can't. Thomas Perry nine firsts thinking The characters you refer to as predatory and unsavory are useful. They're the ones who make a novel into a thriller. They're active, and most of the common virtues, the signs of a good person, are not. Thomas Perry common writing character When I write a book, I'm making it the best book I can. Thomas Perry i-can writing book Yes, in my books I do edit myself to keep from becoming the Village Explainer. Thomas Perry village becoming book Tod Goldberg has long been one of the most interesting writers around, and Gangsterland is his biggest and best book so far. Thomas Perry long book interesting I don't have dry seasons, because I don't allow them. Thomas Perry seasons dry I do have to earn a living, so I'm conscious of probable reactions from readers, but the most important one is still the awareness that if I'm not enjoying a story, the reader won't either. Thomas Perry awareness important stories I don't consciously do anything to maintain a unique voice. Thomas Perry unique-voices voice unique Much of what we do in life has a huge component of luck. Thomas Perry components good-luck luck There are days when I intentionally don't write. For instance, I never write when I'm traveling, because travel is a situation where I can learn more by looking and listening than by working. Thomas Perry listening writing travel Being comfortable isn't the way to learn to expand your abilities. Thomas Perry ability comfortable way You have very accurately described the difficulty of presenting my books on film: many of my characters are alone most of the time, and when they do talk, what they say is mostly lies. That can make for a pretty confusing film. Thomas Perry character book lying There is no place so benighted and godforsaken that some moron won't go there on vacation. People could be living in an open sewer and swallowing dirt to stop the hunger, and there'd be a couple from Larchmont wearing comfortable shoes there to take pictures of them. Thomas Perry vacation shoes couple But at the same time, the commonplace statement about them is true: every character is the hero of his own story. Each has a justification for his actions that is convincing to him. It's fun to give these people voices. Thomas Perry hero fun character All writers are mimics, and I'm not interested in picking up somebody else's style or voice. Thomas Perry not-interested style voice
