I was raised in an orthodox Jewish home where it was expected that, as a woman, I'd marry an investment banker, raise kids in the suburbs and go to temple. I wasn't raised to set the world on fire. Dani Shapiro bankerexpectfire Change image and share on social
When I sit down with my notebook, when I start scribbling words across the page, I find out what I'm feeling. Dani Shapiro feltfindnotebook Change image and share on social
I do whatever is necessary in order to maintain the equanimity we all need to withstand the disappointment and rejection that are the lot of every writer, no matter where we are in our careers. Dani Shapiro careerdisappointmentequanimity Change image and share on social
Confidence is highly overrated when it comes to creating literature. A writer who is overly confident will not engage in the struggle to get it exactly right on the page - but rather, will assume that she's getting it right without the struggle. Dani Shapiro assumeconfidenceconfident 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
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, I'm driving along in my car, and a song from my high-school years comes on the radio: Springsteen's 'Thunder Road.' Just the opening few chords make me want to roll down the window and let the wind blow back my hair. Dani Shapiro backblowcar share on social
I'm an urban person who loves living in the country. Dani Shapiro countrylivelove Change image and share on social
I was raised in an observant Jewish household, so for me, Hebrew prayers - the sounds, the sunlight streaming in from the stained-glass windows of a synagogue - bring my father back to me as surely as if he were sitting next to me, my head pressed against his shoulder. Dani Shapiro backbringfather share on social
I do strongly identify with being Jewish. I was raised Orthodox and had a childhood complicated by the fact that my father was deeply religious and my mother was not. Dani Shapiro childhoodcomplicatedeeply Change image and share on social