I've always preferred writing in longhand. I've always written first drafts in longhand. John Irving drafthavelonghand Change image and share on social
I had a particular affinity for wrestling, and it did have a lot to do with being small and being combative - and being angry. And when you're small and you don't back down, you get in a lot of fights. John Irving affinityangryback share on social
If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it. John Irving couragefindlife Change image and share on social
If you presume to love something, you must love the process of it much more than you love the finished product. John Irving finishlovepresume Change image and share on social
And I don't want to begin something, I don't want to write that first sentence until all the important connections in the novel are known to me. As if the story has already taken place, and it's my responsibility to put it in the right order to tell it to you. John Irving beginconnectionimportant share on social
You don't want to be ungenerous toward people who give you prizes, but it is never the social or political message that interests me in a novel. I begin with an interest in a relationship, a situation, a character. John Irving begincharactergive share on social
I think that writers are, at best, outsiders to the society they inhabit. They have a kind of detachment, or try to have. John Irving detachmentinhabitkind Change image and share on social
If you're still wondering about details - how am I going to get these two to meet, or whatever - when you're writing, you can't pay proper attention to the sentences themselves. John Irving attentiondetailmeet Change image and share on social
My old coach used to say that if you were in it for the match, if you were in it for the trophies, you were in it for the wrong reasons. John Irving coachmatchreason Change image and share on social
I lived five years in the Midwest, and I loved it. The people were so nice. The people were so open. John Irving livelovemidwest Change image and share on social
