We tell ourselves stories in order to live. Joan Didion liveorderstory 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
It took me a couple of years after I got out of Berkeley before I dared to start writing. That academic mind-set - which was kind of shallow in my case anyway - had begun to fade. Joan Didion academicbeginberkeley 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
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
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 forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. Joan Didion forgetthingthink Change image and share on social
It kills me when people talk about California hedonism. Anybody who talks about California hedonism has never spent a Christmas in Sacramento. Joan Didion californiachristmashedonism Change image and share on social
My mother 'gave teas' the way other mothers breathed. Her own mother 'gave teas.' All of their friends 'gave teas,' each involving butter cookies extruded from a metal press and pastel bonbons ordered from See's. Joan Didion bonbonbreathebutter 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
