I think the sport of wrestling, which I became involved with at the age of 14... I competed until I was 34, kind of old for a contact sport. I coached the sport until I was 47. I think the discipline of wrestling has given me the discipline I have to write.

Irving achieved critical and popular acclaim after the international success of The World According to Garp in 1978. ) In addition to his novels he has also publiJohn Irvingd Trying to Save Piggy Sneed a collection of his writings including a brief memoir and unpubliJohn Irvingd short fiction My Movie Business an account of the protracted process of bringing The Cider House Rules to the big screen and The Imaginary Girlfriend a short memoir focusing on writing and wrestling. ) a main character dealing with an absent or unknown parent a main character who is involved in film making and unusual sexual relationships (and often what Irving as referred to as "sexual outsiders") such as incest bestiality or between young men and older women.

Five of his novels have been adapted to film. He won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1999 for his script The Cider House Rules.