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
If I have any advantage, maybe, as a writer, it is that I don't think I'm very interesting. I mean, beginning a novel with the last sentence is a pretty plodding way to spend your life. John Irving advantagebegininterest Change image and share on social
'The Fourth Hand' was a novel that came from twenty years of screenwriting concurrently with whatever novel I'm writing. John Irving concurrentlyfourthhand Change image and 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
There are few things as seemingly untouched by the real world as a child asleep. John Irving asleepchildreal Change image and share on social
I have pretty thick skin, and I think if you're going to be in this business, if you're going to be an actor or a writer, you better have a thick skin. John Irving actorbusinesspretty Change image and share on social
Whatever I write, no matter how gray or dark the subject matter, it's still going to be a comic novel. John Irving comicdarkgray Change image and share on social
The building of the architecture of a novel - the craft of it - is something I never tire of. John Irving architecturebuildcraft Change image and share on social
I think better of our behaviour as individuals than I do when we see ourselves as members of a group. It's when people start forming groups that we have to watch our backs. John Irving backbehaviourform Change image and share on social
