I knew I wanted to be a writer before I knew that being a writer was possible. Dani Shapiro knowwantwriter Change image and share on social
If you write memoir, it can't be about blame or hurt; it has to be creative. Dani Shapiro blamecreativehurt Change image and share on social
I love living in the country, so much so that I'm even surprised by it. I have met lots of interesting people - the community was really welcoming, and I now probably have a more interesting social life than I did in the city. Dani Shapiro citycommunitycountry share on social
Sometimes when I'm at my desk, I'll realize that I have contorted myself completely, and I haven't moved for hours, and that my legs have fallen asleep. I am elsewhere, not in my body, not in the room, not in my house. Dani Shapiro asleepbodycompletely share on social
The mind is a monkey, hopping around from thought to thought, image to image. Rarely do more than a few seconds go by in which the mind can remain single-pointed, empty. Dani Shapiro emptyhopimage Change image and share on social
If you are a writer or any kind of artist, if you change something as fundamental as where you live - the way you live - then I think you change the very instrument that is trying to make the art. Dani Shapiro artartistchange Change image and share on social
I don't think it's possible to separate out the strands of a writer's history, circumstances, life events, and that writer's themes. Dani Shapiro circumstanceeventhistory Change image and share on social
I am devoted to my husband and son. I am devoted to the practices and rituals that imbue our lives with a sense of meaning and purpose, that help me to live my days in the most emotionally and intellectually productive manner. I am devoted to the idea of devotion itself. Dani Shapiro daydevotedevotion share on social
Novels are my favorite to write and read. I do like writing personal essays, too. I'm not really a short story writer, nor do I tend to gravitate to them as a reader. Dani Shapiro essayfavoritegravitate Change image and share on social
Writers are outsiders. Even when we seem like insiders, we're outsiders. We have to be. Our noses pressed to the glass, we notice everything. We mull and interpret. We store away clues, details that may be useful to us later. Dani Shapiro cluedetailglass share on social
