Anne Tyler

Anne Phyllis Tyler (born October 25, 1941) is an American novelist, short story writer, and literary critic.

Quotes

• I’m more in touch with my emotions and the visceral sensory from childhood than any other part of life. I don’t know if it helps with creativity, but I do know that when I talk to other writers they talk about their childhood in great detail.
  • On still being connected to childhood memories in “Anne Tyler: 'Up close you’ll always see things to be optimistic about'” in The Guardian (2020 Apr 11)

• I am very comfortable writing as a man, and I think that’s because I had really good men in my life. They made me feel comfortable and I thought, ‘OK, they’re not so different from me…’
  • On writing male characters in “Anne Tyler: 'Up close you’ll always see things to be optimistic about'” in The Guardian (2020 Apr 11)

• I know the world does not need another book from me, but I have nothing else to do with myself. I have no hobbies. So then I feel guilty when I say to my agent, ‘I seem to have another book ready if you want to take a look at it…’
  • On her writing process in “Anne Tyler: 'Up close you’ll always see things to be optimistic about'” in The Guardian (2020 Apr 11)

• …‘I think I was a better writer when I was younger.’…I was more detailed, I took more time. It’s not as if I’m in a rush now, but I trust the reader more. I don’t feel like I have to say that much about the character’s inner feelings. But then as I read The Accidental Tourist I thought, ‘Well, it’s kind of nice to see all of Macon’s inner feelings there.’
  • On how she compares her writings in in “Anne Tyler: 'Up close you’ll always see things to be optimistic about'” in The Guardian (2020 Apr 11)

Quotes about Anne Tyler

• Toni Morrison, Kay Boyle, Philip Roth, Peter Matthiessen, Anne Tyler, and Rosellen Brown read an unknown manuscript and responded with those quotes and marks of approval that appear on book jackets. These were completely unsolicited and I still find it remarkable that these writers, overwhelmed with pleas and manuscripts, picked up Love Medicine and responded. There were a great number of people kind along the way. One hears much more about the egomania and posturing of writers than one does about the devotion that writers have for one another's work.
  • 1993 interview in Conversations with Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris edited by Allan Chavkin and Nancy Feyl Chavkin (1994)