Once a year I try writing a poem, usually because I've read some poetry that amazed me and I want to do that. Steve Toltz More Quotes by Steve Toltz More Quotes From Steve Toltz There are authors like David Foster Wallace or Raymond Chandler - with voice-based authors I might end up a completist, because what I love about them isn't just the particular construction of one novel or another but their flavor. There is an Austrian writer, Thomas Bernhard, as well. One book is not necessarily greater than another book, but they just have this incredible, unique voice, so it doesn't really matter which one you read. Steve Toltz incredibles unique book Generally as a rule I am not. Unless I am super in love with a particular author, because I just want to read masterpieces. I just want to read one amazing book after another. As a completist you are generally reading the bad ones. Steve Toltz masterpiece reading book There's this quote by a writer, Emil Cioran, he's a Romanian writer. He says that you should only put things in books that you would never dare to say to people in real life. So there is that feeling of acute embarrassment, or that you've been too revealing. I think it's some kind of survival mechanism where I never think of the reader, ever. Because then I would start censoring myself. Steve Toltz real book thinking I have that sort of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David/George Costanza thing where people are like, "How did you feel writing such an unlikable character?" And I'm like, "It's me! I based him on myself!" There are certain moments where they do feel like unwittingly personal attacks. Steve Toltz writing character people As an artist you can use your own discomfort and neuroses and difficulties and at least transform them into something else. Without that you're just neurotic and uncomfortable. Steve Toltz uncomfortable difficulty artist There's only one common element that united every writer I've admired... they're all incredibly well-read. Steve Toltz element every only united I made some probably very cringe-worthy short films that shall hopefully never make the light of day. Steve Toltz short never day light If I've written five pages by hand, out of those five pages, one page might be worth saving. The rest is crap. I have to throw it away. It's like I need eight hours to do two hours' work. Steve Toltz worth need rest work I can't sit through dinner with somebody I don't like. Steve Toltz sit through like dinner I know you're supposed to hide your influences, but I suppose I see writing as riffing, really, about whatever you have been reading or thinking about that day or that week. Steve Toltz day you reading thinking When people come up to me and say, 'I read your book,' I'm thinking, 'How dare you! Who gave you a copy?' Steve Toltz me you people thinking If I knew a story page by page before I started writing it, I just wouldn't do it. The process of discovery is really important for my own enjoyment. Steve Toltz story my-own important writing I'm not sure if I always wanted to be a writer, but I was always writing. Steve Toltz sure writer always writing People always say, 'Write what you know', but I've always found that to be terrible advice. It's quite limiting, what you know. Steve Toltz know you advice people I think as you get older, there are things that there's just no light side to, but you know, I guess the more you empathise with people, the more empathy you have, the less you are able to see the lighter side. Steve Toltz you empathy light people
