I became aesthetically obsessed with language. And 'literary artist' - poet and novelist - is a calling. You are called to it the way preachers are called to preaching the gospel. Jim Harrison aestheticallyartistcall Change image and share on social
I asked a French critic a couple of years ago why my books did so well in France. He said it was because in my novels people both act and think. I got a kick out of that. Jim Harrison actagoask Change image and share on social
I do mourn my characters. I wrote an essay once where I was sure that far back in a marsh there was a hummock - a little hill of hardwoods - and an old farm house, where all the heroines in my novels lived together with all my beloved dead dogs. I've discussed this with my therapist, naturally. He says it's okay in fair amounts. Jim Harrison amountbackbeloved share on social
What moves me most is style: the quality of the writing rather than the story being told. Jim Harrison movequalitystory Change image and share on social
How is it macho that I like to hunt and fish? I've been doing it since I was four. Jim Harrison fishhavehunt Change image and share on social
You have to temporarily be the character in order to understand him. It's sort of what they used to call 'shape-shifting.' Jim Harrison callcharacterorder Change image and share on social
My biggest pet peeve is when you go to a fine restaurant, and it's like a mausoleum inside. Good food should be joyful. There should be laughter and chatter, not people sitting there like they're in a funeral-parlor waiting room. Jim Harrison bigchatterfine share on social
Sometimes, I tell my wife I have to take a car trip and collect new memories - I like to drive around at absolute random for weeks on end through the United States and parts of Canada. Or else I feel trapped, like you feel when your life is completely planned for months in advance, and you think you're not getting enough oxygen. Jim Harrison absoluteadvancecanada share on social
I don't think it matters how fast you write. It's how long you thought about it. I like to think of it as a well filling up. I think about it until the well is full, and then I let go. Jim Harrison fastfillfull Change image and share on social
Poetry, at its best, is the language your soul would speak if you could teach your soul to speak. Jim Harrison languagepoetrysoul Change image and share on social