E. L. Doctorow

We're always attracted to the edges of what we are, out by the edges where it's a little raw and nervy. ↗

— E. L. Doctorow

#attracted #edges #little #out #raw

When I'm writing, I like to seal everything off and face the wall, not to look outside the window. The only way out is through the sentences. ↗

— E. L. Doctorow

#face #i #like #look #off

When you're working well, you don't do research. Whatever you need comes to you. ↗

— E. L. Doctorow

#need #research #well #whatever #working

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time you compose a book your composition of yourself is at stake. ↗

— E. L. Doctorow

#compose #composition #down #every #every time

Writing is immensely difficult. The short forms especially. ↗

— E. L. Doctorow

#especially #forms #immensely #short #writing

Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way. ↗

— E. L. Doctorow

#driving #far #fog #headlights #like

Movies are too literal. ↗

— E. L. Doctorow

#movies #too

Planning to write is not writing. Outlining, researching, talking to people about what you're doing, none of that is writing. Writing is writing. ↗

— E. L. Doctorow

#doing #none #outlining #people #planning