I was born in 1949, and by the time I was 10, I figured out that my hope chest was not aimed in the same direction everybody else's was. And that life was going to be very, very complicated. And that I could either be provocative and declamatory, or shy, retiring and scared. Dorothy Allison aimbearchest share on social
One of the strengths I derive from my class background is that I am accustomed to contempt. Dorothy Allison accustombackgroundclass Change image and share on social
I'll tell you the secret. When you begin with a character, you want to begin by creating a villain. Dorothy Allison begincharactercreate Change image and share on social
My sisters, we didn't like each other as kids. We were scared of each other, I think, but we've grown to love each other. It was fun to write about these sisters who were supposed to hate each other but really don't. Dorothy Allison fungrowhate share on social
And while it is true that I got the best woman in the world, I don't think love saves you. Dorothy Allison lovesavetrue Change image and share on social
Two or three things I know for sure, and one is that I'd rather go naked than wear the coat the world has made for me. Dorothy Allison coatmakenaked Change image and share on social
If somebody gave you several thousand dollars and nothin' to do but write, would you be a writer then? Would you tell your stories, your family's stories, then? Dorothy Allison dollarfamilygive Change image and share on social
Where story comes from, I don't know. I know that I become obsessed with something. An idea, an image, a person, the way a person talks. And then something starts happening that I can't explain, and it has a lot to do with language. Dorothy Allison explainhappenidea share on social
Change, when it comes, cracks everything open. Dorothy Allison changecrackopen Change image and share on social
