Writing a novel is actually searching for victims. As I write I keep looking for casualties. The stories uncover the casualties. John Irving casualtysearchstory Change image and share on social
You don't want to dwell on your enemies, you know. I basically feel so superior to my critics for the simple reason that they haven't done what I do. Most book reviewers haven't written 11 novels. Many of them haven't written one. John Irving basicallybookcritic share on social
Anybody can do research. The plotting of the novel, writing the ending before you write anything else, which I always do - I don't know that everybody can do that. That's the hard part. John Irving endhardpart Change image and share on social
Sigmund Freud was a novelist with a scientific background. He just didn't know he was a novelist. All those damn psychiatrists after him, they didn't know he was a novelist either. John Irving backgrounddamnfreud Change image and share on social
I've always been a fan of the 19th century novel, of the novel that is plotted, character-driven, and where the passage of time is almost as central to the novel as a major minor character, the passage of time and its effect on the characters in the story. John Irving 19thcentralcentury share on social
When I love a novel I've read, I want to reread it - in part, to see how it was constructed. John Irving constructhavelove Change image and share on social
I believe in rules of behavior, and I'm quite interested in stories about the consequences of breaking those rules. John Irving behaviorbreakconsequence Change image and share on social
I don't read anything electronically. I don't write electronically, either - except e-mails to my family and friends. I write in longhand. I have always written first drafts by hand, but I used to write subsequent drafts and insert pages on a typewriter. John Irving draftelectronicallyfamily share on social
I'm not writing non-fiction. I don't feel anything about me as a kid was unique. Except that I had more interest in being alone and using my imagination. John Irving feelfictionimagination Change image and share on social
