I started a second novel seven times and I had to throw them away.

Quote by Amy Tan

Topics: Amy Tan Quotes

God, life changes faster than you think.

God, life changes faster than you think.

I didn't fear failure. I expected failure.

I didn't fear failure. I expected failure.

I used to think that my mother got into arguments with people because they didn't...

I used to think that my mother got into arguments with people because they didn't...

Language is the tool of my trade -and I use them all - all the...

Language is the tool of my trade -and I use them all - all the...

My mother said I was a clingy kid until I was about four. I also...

My mother said I was a clingy kid until I was about four. I also...

I have a writer's memory which makes everything worse than maybe it actually was.

I have a writer's memory which makes everything worse than maybe it actually was.

I wanted to write stories for myself. At first it was purely an aesthetic thing...

I wanted to write stories for myself. At first it was purely an aesthetic thing...

Writing is an extreme privilege but it's also a gift. It's a gift to yourself...

Writing is an extreme privilege but it's also a gift. It's a gift to yourself...

She said 'I'm by commission. You don't have to pay anything until you sell anything.'...

She said 'I'm by commission. You don't have to pay anything until you sell anything.'...

Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from...

Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from...

I would still like to have that luxury, to be able to just sit and...

I would still like to have that luxury, to be able to just sit and...

It's both rebellion and conformity that attack you with success.

It's both rebellion and conformity that attack you with success.

We are the kind of people who obsess over one word... but we have only...

We are the kind of people who obsess over one word... but we have only...

It's a luxury being a writer, because all you ever think about is life.

It's a luxury being a writer, because all you ever think about is life.

I also thought of playing improvisational jazz and I did take lessons for a while....

I also thought of playing improvisational jazz and I did take lessons for a while....

Memory feeds imagination.

Memory feeds imagination.

You write a book and you hope somebody will go out and pay $24.95 for...

You write a book and you hope somebody will go out and pay $24.95 for...

I was intelligent enough to make up my own mind. I not only had freedom...

I was intelligent enough to make up my own mind. I not only had freedom...

I did not lose myself all at once. I rubbed out my face over the...

I did not lose myself all at once. I rubbed out my face over the...

I saw my mother in a different light. We all need to do that. You...

I saw my mother in a different light. We all need to do that. You...