The real question is: How do you react? What do you do next? Evade responsibilities? Bury yourself in work? What do you do? All three of my novels take up that question, although none gives an answer. David Guterson More Quotes by David Guterson More Quotes From David Guterson That the world was silent and cold and bare and that in this lay its terrible beauty David Guterson silent cold world The best advice on writing I've ever received is to take it seriously, because to do it well is all-consuming. David Guterson wells writing advice I was aware that there is an expectation that writers inevitably falter at this stage, that they fail to live up to the promise of their first successful book, that the next book never pleases the way the prior one did. It simply increased my sense of being challenged. David Guterson successful expectations book He decided then that he would love her forever no matter what came to pass. It was not so much a matter of deciding as accepting the inevitability of it. It made him feel better, though he felt perturbed, too, worried that this kiss was wrong. But from his point of view, at fourteen years old, their love was entirely unavoidable. It had started on the day they'd clung to his glass box and kissed in the sea, and now it must go on forever. He felt certain of this. David Guterson kissing feel-better love To persevere is always a reflection of the state of one's inner life, one's philosophy and one's perspective David Guterson perspective reflection philosophy Writers shouldn’t underestimate the difficulty of what they’re doing, and they should treat it with great seriousness. You’re doing something that really matters, you’re telling stories that have an impact on other people and on the culture. You should tell the best stories you can possibly tell and put everything you’ve got into it. David Guterson impact writing people A literary achievement of the highest order. David Guterson highest achievement order What some people interpret as brooding melancholy is serenity. I don't feel required to grasp all the time. David Guterson serenity literature people I grew up in Seattle, but I always knew I wanted to leave. David Guterson grew grew-up wanted I was totally absorbed in the real world, the politics, the history, the news, and I just couldn't find my way into the fictional world... When I finally could return to writing the novel, it was in fits and starts. David Guterson politics history way world It doesn't matter who you are, how many awards you've won, how popular you are, or how much critical acclaim you've had. David Guterson how you awards matter