It once amused me that it took me three tries to pass my driver's test and that my driving instructor told my mother that I was the least talented person behind the wheel that she had ever taught. Jane Smiley amusedrivedriver Change image and share on social
Literature - novels, plays, and poems - can have an uncanny dual life, where they simultaneously represent something eternal and something historical, and this is often how they are taught in school. Jane Smiley dualeternalhistorical Change image and share on social
Write every day, just to keep in the habit, and remember that whatever you have written is neither as good nor as bad as you think it is. Just keep going, and tell yourself that you will fix it later. Jane Smiley baddayfix Change image and share on social
Well, in fact everybody - everybody - in the entire nation has enough stuff in their life to write about that's interesting that they could write their autobiography. And in the end that's why I find people interesting. Jane Smiley autobiographyendentire share on social
I discovered that the horse is life itself, a metaphor but also an example of life's mystery and unpredictability, of life's generosity and beauty, a worthy object of repeated and ever changing contemplation. Jane Smiley beautychangecontemplation share on social
Not every novel that wants to be a tragedy gets to be one. Jane Smiley tragedy Change image and share on social
Oh, that sound? I'm in the hot tub, reading a novel. Jane Smiley hotreadsound Change image and share on social
An urban novelist never minds a little decay. Jane Smiley decaymindnovelist Change image and share on social
In many ways, being honest about 'Huckleberry Finn' goes right to the heart of whether we can be honest about our heritage and our identity as Americans. Jane Smiley americanfinnheart Change image and share on social
As Fallingwater demonstrates, Wright's genius was always specific, but also always lively, always daring. Jane Smiley daredemonstratefallingwater Change image and share on social
