I expect that any day now, I will have said all I have to say; I'll have used up all my characters, and then I'll be free to get on with my real life.

Quote by Anne Tyler

Topics: Anne Tyler Quotes

I was standing in the schoolyard waiting for a child when another mother came up...

I was standing in the schoolyard waiting for a child when another mother came up...

She worded it a bit strongly, but I do find myself more and more struck...

She worded it a bit strongly, but I do find myself more and more struck...

I save the best of myself for novels, and I believe it shows.

I save the best of myself for novels, and I believe it shows.

For me, writing something down was the only road out.

For me, writing something down was the only road out.

Not until the final draft do I force myself to remember that I'm going to...

Not until the final draft do I force myself to remember that I'm going to...

When I read, I'm purely a reader.

When I read, I'm purely a reader.

My decision to start a new one is just that, a decision, since I never...

My decision to start a new one is just that, a decision, since I never...

If I waited till I felt like writing, I'd never write at all.

If I waited till I felt like writing, I'd never write at all.

It's true that it's a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much...

It's true that it's a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much...

For my own family, I would always choose the makeshift, surrogate family formed by various...

For my own family, I would always choose the makeshift, surrogate family formed by various...

I do write long, long character notes - family background, history, details of appearance -...

I do write long, long character notes - family background, history, details of appearance -...

The Amateur Marriage grew out of the reflection that of all the opportunities to show...

The Amateur Marriage grew out of the reflection that of all the opportunities to show...

I can never tell ahead of time which book will give me trouble - some...

I can never tell ahead of time which book will give me trouble - some...

It seems to me that good novels celebrate the mystery in ordinary life, and summing...

It seems to me that good novels celebrate the mystery in ordinary life, and summing...

In real life I avoid all parties altogether, but on paper I can mingle with...

In real life I avoid all parties altogether, but on paper I can mingle with...

I think it must be very hard to be one of the new young writers...

I think it must be very hard to be one of the new young writers...

And I am interested in the fact that class is very much a factor in...

And I am interested in the fact that class is very much a factor in...

I just want to be told a story, and I want to believe I'm living...

I just want to be told a story, and I want to believe I'm living...

I consciously try to end my novels at a point where I won't have to...

I consciously try to end my novels at a point where I won't have to...

It seems to me that since I've had children, I've grown richer and deeper. They...

It seems to me that since I've had children, I've grown richer and deeper. They...