You have to figure out who the right person is to tell the story. And often, people who are very self-aware will only sound as if they are pontificating if they tell the story.

Quote by Ann Beattie

Topics: Ann Beattie Quotes

I like a lot of Margaret Atwood, I like much of Alice Munro. Again, if...

I like a lot of Margaret Atwood, I like much of Alice Munro. Again, if...

It seems to me that the problem with diaries, and the reason that most of...

It seems to me that the problem with diaries, and the reason that most of...

When I lived in New York, not only did I have safety locks on the...

When I lived in New York, not only did I have safety locks on the...

I think I write about things that are mysterious to me.

I think I write about things that are mysterious to me.

I don't even correct people when they mispronounce my name now.

I don't even correct people when they mispronounce my name now.

It's gratifying that it does; I love to give readings.

It's gratifying that it does; I love to give readings.

If you could have a book called My Favorite Six Stories, I don't think I'd...

If you could have a book called My Favorite Six Stories, I don't think I'd...

It's often been said that I'm an extremely depressing, cynical writer. I've never known what...

It's often been said that I'm an extremely depressing, cynical writer. I've never known what...

I think that I'm serious, but I don't think that I'm inordinately bleak.

I think that I'm serious, but I don't think that I'm inordinately bleak.

It's interesting, though, that in daily life, I think of myself as being relatively unobservant.

It's interesting, though, that in daily life, I think of myself as being relatively unobservant.

Also minimalism is a term that all of us who share so little in common...

Also minimalism is a term that all of us who share so little in common...

I could name a few songs and say exactly what summer they came out and...

I could name a few songs and say exactly what summer they came out and...

Quite often my narrator or protagonist may be a man, but I'm not sure he's...

Quite often my narrator or protagonist may be a man, but I'm not sure he's...

Much of what happens in Love Always is really from overheard conversations in the Russian...

Much of what happens in Love Always is really from overheard conversations in the Russian...

Women are obviously much more discriminated against than men in many ways.

Women are obviously much more discriminated against than men in many ways.

While I would agree that I write about serious subjects, and that they're not necessarily...

While I would agree that I write about serious subjects, and that they're not necessarily...

Nobody can assume that, to a writer, everything is off-limits.

Nobody can assume that, to a writer, everything is off-limits.

I must say also that it's never worked to my disadvantage that I have long,...

I must say also that it's never worked to my disadvantage that I have long,...

Falling in Place was meant to be very much rooted in a place and time,...

Falling in Place was meant to be very much rooted in a place and time,...

I don't write about things that I have the answers to or things that are...

I don't write about things that I have the answers to or things that are...