I guess I cringe when the discussion leads to, rather than books and sentences and characters and the stuff that writers are supposed to be concerned with, how to have an online presence and how many followers you have on Twitter. That stuff always makes me uncomfortable. Alice McDermott bookcharacterconcern share on social
I read a little bit of nonfiction and a lot of poetry. I think of poetry as my shot of whiskey when I don't have time to savor a whole bottle of wine. Alice McDermott bitebottlelot Change image and share on social
I know Irish-American people. I know what their homes look like. I know what they have for dinner. I know how they turn a phrase. Alice McDermott americandinnerhome Change image and share on social
Any fiction writer who assumes that a character is typical no doubt runs the risk of stumbling into cliche and stereotype. Alice McDermott assumecharactercliche Change image and share on social
The language of the Catholic Church - the liturgy, the prayer, the gospels - was in many ways my first poetry. Alice McDermott catholicchurchgospel Change image and share on social
At the beginning of every semester, I ask my graduate students whether there is something I should read that will help me understand their work. Alice McDermott begingraduateread Change image and share on social
I do have friends in Pittsburgh, and I had some wonderful experiences there. Alice McDermott experiencefriendpittsburgh Change image and share on social
Those of us who know the transporting wonder of a reading life know that it little matters where we are when we talk about books or meet authors or bemoan the state of publishing because when we read, we are always inside, sheltered in that interior room, that clean, well-lighted, timeless place that is the written word. Alice McDermott authorbemoanbook share on social
I believed in fictional characters as if they were a part of real life. Poetry was important, too. My parents had memorized poems from their days attending school in New York City and loved reciting them. We all enjoyed listening to these poems and to music as well. Alice McDermott attendbelievecharacter share on social
I've got to hear the rhythm of the sentences; I want the music of the prose. I want to see ordinary things transformed not by the circumstances in which I see them but by the language with which they're described. That's what I love when I read. Alice McDermott circumstancehavehear share on social