Novels are like paintings, specifically watercolors. Every stroke you put down you have to go with. Of course you can rewrite, but the original strokes are still there in the texture of the thing. Joan Didion noveloriginalpainting Change image and share on social
You aren't sure if you're making the right decision - about anything, ever. Joan Didion decisionmake Change image and share on social
You think you have some stable talent that will show no matter what you're writing, and if it doesn't seem to be getting across to the audience once, you can't imagine that moment when it suddenly will. Gradually, gradually you gain that confidence. Joan Didion audienceconfidencegain share on social
We tell ourselves stories in order to live. Joan Didion liveorderstory Change image and share on social
I no longer want reminders of what was, what got broken, what got lost, what got wasted. Joan Didion breaklonglose Change image and share on social
Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends. Joan Didion dinnerendfast Change image and share on social
Self-respect is a question of recognizing that anything worth having has a price. Joan Didion pricequestionrecognize Change image and share on social
Once in a while, when I first started to write pieces, I would try to write to a reader other than myself. I always failed. I would freeze up. Joan Didion failfreezepiece Change image and share on social
Of course, you always think about how it will be read. I always aim for a reading in one sitting. Joan Didion aimreadsit Change image and share on social
Before I'd written movies, I never could do big set-piece scenes with a lot of different speakers - when you've got twelve people around a dinner table talking at cross purposes. I had always been impressed by other people's ability to do that. Joan Didion abilitybigcross share on social
