I would advise any beginning writer to write the first drafts as if no one else will ever read them - without a thought about publication - and only in the last draft to consider how the work will look…

Quote by Anne Tyler

Topics: Anne Tyler Quotes

I expect that any day now, I will have said all I have to say;...

I expect that any day now, I will have said all I have to say;...

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...

I'm too shy for personal appearances, and I've found out that anytime I talk about...

I'm too shy for personal appearances, and I've found out that anytime I talk about...

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.

My writing day has grown shorter as I've aged, although it seems to produce the...

My writing day has grown shorter as I've aged, although it seems to produce the...

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...

While armchair travelers dream of going places, traveling armchairs dream of staying put.

While armchair travelers dream of going places, traveling armchairs dream of staying put.

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...

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

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

I've always enjoyed studying the small clues that indicate a particular class level.

I've always enjoyed studying the small clues that indicate a particular class level.

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...

The one ironclad rule is that I have to try. I have to walk into...

The one ironclad rule is that I have to try. I have to walk into...

I don't want to say I hear voices; well, actually I do hear voices, but...

I don't want to say I hear voices; well, actually I do hear voices, but...

None of my own experiences ever finds its way into my work. However, the stages...

None of my own experiences ever finds its way into my work. However, the stages...

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...

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...

At most I'll spend three or four hours daily, sometimes less.

At most I'll spend three or four hours daily, sometimes less.

I never think about the actual process of writing. I suppose I have a superstition...

I never think about the actual process of writing. I suppose I have a superstition...

I forget a book as soon as I finish writing it, which is not always...

I forget a book as soon as I finish writing it, which is not always...