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

Quote by Anne Tyler

Topics: Anne Tyler Quotes

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'll write maybe one long paragraph describing the events, then a page or two breaking...

I'll write maybe one long paragraph describing the events, then a page or two breaking...

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

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

The hardest novel to write was Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.

The hardest novel to write was Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.

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...

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...

I've always thought a hotel ought to offer optional small animals. I mean a cat...

I've always thought a hotel ought to offer optional small animals. I mean a cat...

But what I hope for from a book - either one that I write or...

But what I hope for from a book - either one that I write or...

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...

My stories are never quite good enough.

My stories are never quite good enough.

I didn't really choose to write; I more or less fell into it.

I didn't really choose to write; I more or less fell into it.

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...

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.

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...