In 1970, at the age of 14, I entered a short story contest offering a grand prize of one dollar. I won. This was my first foray into writing fiction. I loved reading and thought that it shouldn't be so hard to write a story. David Bergen agecontestdollar share on social
I gave up writing for seven years (very biblical) and picked it up again, still clueless and still seeking the exotic, when I was twenty-one. David Bergen biblicalcluelessexotic Change image and share on social
As a writer, you write the book, you give it to your editor, it's copy edited, it's published, it's thrown out there, and then there's a response. David Bergen bookcopyedit Change image and share on social
The IMPAC is a terribly important award. David Bergen awardimpacimportant Change image and share on social
For me, when I 'discover' a story, there is a feeling of buoyancy and clarity, perhaps similar to early morning out on a prairie highway, when darkness lifts and reveals the outline of farmhouses and copses of trees in the distance. David Bergen buoyancyclaritycopse share on social
I think a construction project for me is like writing a novel. I can't do the project unless I can envision sort of the whole structure and see what the end result might be. David Bergen constructionendenvision Change image and share on social
I tend to push whatever is looking over my shoulder away when I am writing. It's once the box of books arrive that I say I'm going to be pilloried for this or that. But then you realize it's done, and there is nothing I can do. I'm proud of the book. David Bergen arrivebookbox share on social
Failure is essential. Trial and error is necessary. David Bergen erroressentialfailure Change image and share on social
In my brief writing life, it means I am still lucky that I have at least one more novel to complete. I do not expect that a story will arrive just because it is time to write another novel. It doesn't happen that way. David Bergen arrivecompleteexpect share on social
As a writer, I'm always aware of the fact that there are so many books out there. David Bergen awarebookfact Change image and share on social
