Much of my experience with language was formed in the church, which has an oral tradition. There are lots of repetitions in prayers and song refrains. There's a sense of incantation, that if you call not once and not twice but for a third time, the spirit appears. Alice McDermott appearcallchurch share on social
After a long run of almost thirty years, you get to the point where you say, 'These are my concerns.' It's not so much this is what I set out to claim - it is a kind of refrain. Alice McDermott claimconcernkind Change image and share on social
I think it's handy for a dramatist of any sort, if I can call myself that, to make use of weddings and wakes, to make use of those moments and those rituals that cause us to pause and look back or look forward and understand that life has changed. Alice McDermott backcallchange share on social
Being Irish-American myself, Irish-American material is readily at hand to me. Alice McDermott americanhandirish Change image and share on social
I love a well-plotted story. But I'm just not that kind of writer, and it's not necessarily by choice. When I manipulate plot, I feel I lose authenticity. Alice McDermott authenticitychoicefeel Change image and share on social
A perfect poem you can't pin down and say, 'This is exactly what it meant to me.' It's not a self-help manual. Alice McDermott manualmeanperfect Change image and share on social