Although a novel takes place in the larger world, there's always some drive in it that is entirely personal - even if you don't know it while you're doing it. Joan Didion drivelargepersonal Change image and share on social
What's so hard about that first sentence is that you're stuck with it. Everything else is going to flow out of that sentence. And by the time you've laid down the first two sentences, your options are all gone. Joan Didion flowhardhave share on social
It was clear, for example, in 1988 that the political process had already become perilously remote from the electorate it was meant to represent. Joan Didion clearelectoratemean Change image and share on social
I lead a very conventional life. I don't lead a writer's life. And I think that can be a source of suspicion and irritation to some people. This was more true when I was living in California, when I didn't lead a writer's life at all. Joan Didion californiaconventionalirritation share on social
Nonfiction is more personal for me. It's more personal in that it's more direct, and actually it's always been more direct, even when I first started doing pieces. Joan Didion directnonfictionpersonal Change image and share on social
Not much about California, on its own preferred terms, has encouraged its children to see themselves as connected to one another. Joan Didion californiachildconnect Change image and share on social
All of these things we do without children, and suddenly we don't do them anymore, and it comes home to us in a real way, that it's very different to have the responsibility of a child. Joan Didion anymorechildhome Change image and share on social
You have to pick the places you don't walk away from. Joan Didion pickplacewalk Change image and share on social
In many ways, writing is the act of saying 'I,' of imposing oneself upon other people, of saying, 'Listen to me, see it my way, change your mind.' It's an aggressive, even a hostile act. Joan Didion actaggressivechange Change image and share on social
We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. Joan Didion forgetthingthink Change image and share on social
