So I may not have had a gothic childhood, but childhood makes its own gothicity. George Saunders childhoodgothicgothicity Change image and share on social
I'm always aware of writing around things I can't do, and I've come to think that that's actually what 'style' is - an avoidance of your deficiencies. George Saunders avoidanceawaredeficiency Change image and share on social
There might be a different model for a literary community that's quicker, more real-time, and involves more spontaneity. George Saunders communityinvolveliterary Change image and share on social
A John Updike is a once-in-a-generation phenomenon, if that generation is lucky: so comfortable in so many genres, the same lively, generous intelligence suffusing all he did. George Saunders comfortablegenerationgenerous Change image and share on social
I think in our time, you know, so much of the information we get is pre-polarized. Fiction has a way of reminding us that we actually are very similar in our emotions and our neurology and our desires and our fears, so I think it's a nice way to neutralize that polarization. George Saunders desireemotionfear share on social
If you haven't read you don't have the voice. The lack of voice eliminates experience. George Saunders eliminateexperiencelack Change image and share on social
The word 'funny' is a bit like the word 'love' - we don't have enough words to describe the many varieties. George Saunders bitedescribefunny Change image and share on social
We have that illusion that we are 'deciding' what to make a character do, in order to 'convey our message' or something like that. But, at least in my experience, you are often more like a river-rafting guide who's been paid a bonus to purposely steer your clients into the roughest possible water. George Saunders bonuscharacterclient share on social
I could actually care less about the poor. We have some living near us, and pee-yew. They are always coming and going to their three or four jobs at all hours of the day and night. Annoying! George Saunders annoycarecome Change image and share on social
The chances of a person breaking through their own habits and sloth and limited mind to actually write something that gets out there and matters to people are slim. George Saunders breakchancehabit Change image and share on social