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
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
We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. Joan Didion forgetthingthink Change image and share on social
My only advantage as a reporter is that I am so physically small, so temperamentally unobtrusive, and so neurotically inarticulate that people tend to forget that my presence runs counter to their best interests. Joan Didion advantagecounterforget share on social
I have never started a novel - I mean except the first, when I was starting a novel just to start a novel - I've never written one without rereading Victory. It opens up the possibilities of a novel. It makes it seem worth doing. Joan Didion havemakeopen share on social
The minute you start putting words on paper you're eliminating possibilities. Joan Didion eliminateminutepaper Change image and share on social
