Writing a novel is not at all like riding a bike. Writing a novel is like having to redesign a bike, based on laws of physics that you don't understand, in a new universe. So having written one novel does nothing for you when you have to write the second one. Daniel Alarcon basebikelaw share on social
Publication in 'The New Yorker' meant everything, and it's no exaggeration to say that it changed my life. Daniel Alarcon changeexaggerationlife Change image and share on social
I write in English because I was raised in the States and educated in this language. Daniel Alarcon educateenglishlanguage Change image and share on social
I love the novel because it's like a love affair. You can just fall into it and keep going, and you never know where it's going to take you. Daniel Alarcon affairfalllove Change image and share on social
It's true that there are people who live the idea of being an artist, as opposed to the idea of making art. Daniel Alarcon artartistidea Change image and share on social
I began visiting Lima's prisons back in 2007, when my first novel, 'Lost City Radio,' was published in Peru. Daniel Alarcon backbegincity Change image and share on social
I have to really think hard about how to structure sentences, and do more mapping when I sit down to write, so it does impose a certain discipline, intellectual and linguistic. Daniel Alarcon disciplinehardimpose Change image and share on social
I'm a sucker for any band named after a work of literature. Los de Abajo take their name from Mariano Azuela's famous novel 'The Underdogs,' and that says a lot about who they are and the music they make. Daniel Alarcon abajoazuelaband share on social
Peru is a country where more than half the people would emigrate if given the chance. That's half the population that is willing to abandon everything they know for the uncertainty of a life in a foreign land, in another language. Daniel Alarcon abandonchancecountry share on social
When I was younger, I was able to write with music playing in the background, but these days, I can't. I find it distracting. Even when the music is just instrumental or has lyrics in a language I don't understand, the clash between the voices in my head and the song can be very disorienting. Daniel Alarcon backgroundclashday share on social