We're always attracted to the edges of what we are, out by the edges where it's a little raw and nervy. E. L. Doctorow attractedgenervy Change image and share on social
One of the things I had to learn as a writer was to trust the act of writing. To put myself in the position of writing to find out what I was writing. E. L. Doctorow actfindlearn Change image and share on social
Somewhere along the line the rhythms and tonalities of music elided in my brain with the sounds that words make and the rhythm that sentences have. E. L. Doctorow brainelideline Change image and share on social
My books start almost before I realise it. Once in a while, some accident causes an idea to rise to the surface and say: 'now.' E. L. Doctorow accidentbookidea Change image and share on social
If we ever find out how the brain works, with all its complexity, then we will be able to build a machine that has consciousness. And if that happens, that is a road to planetary disaster because everything we've thought about ourselves, since the Bronze Age, the Bible, all of that will be gone. E. L. Doctorow agebiblebrain share on social
When you're writing a book, you don't really think about it critically. You don't want to know too well what you're doing. First, you write the book, then you find the justification for it. E. L. Doctorow bookcriticallyfind Change image and share on social
When you're working well, you don't do research. Whatever you need comes to you. E. L. Doctorow researchwork Change image and share on social
Here's how it goes: I'm up at the stroke of 10 or 10:30. I have breakfast and read the papers, and then it's lunchtime. Then maybe a little nap after lunch and out to the gym, and before I know it, it's time to have a drink. E. L. Doctorow breakfastdrinkgym share on social
I have a number of vices, one of which is moderation. E. L. Doctorow moderationnumbvice Change image and share on social
Planning to write is not writing. Outlining, researching, talking to people about what you're doing, none of that is writing. Writing is writing. E. L. Doctorow outlinepeopleplan Change image and share on social