Collections aren't really planned. I just keep writing short pieces until I have enough for a collection. Lydia Davis collectionpieceplan Change image and share on social
I first read 'Madame Bovary' in my teens or early twenties. Lydia Davis bovaryearlymadame Change image and share on social
My stories are sometimes closer to poems or meditations, but often there is at least a little narrative in them. Lydia Davis closemeditationnarrative Change image and share on social
Ordering is difficult. It's like arranging pieces of music in a concert: What do you put first? What do you put after the intermission? I want the reader to be sort of surprised, to come to each story freshly. Lydia Davis arrangeconcertdifficult share on social
Even though I believe a superlative translation can achieve timelessness, that doesn't mean I think other translators shouldn't attempt other versions. The more the better, in the end. Lydia Davis achieveattemptend Change image and share on social
All of the little entries in 'The Cows' were written in an irregular way. There might be one or two done one day, and then two weeks might go by or four weeks, and then they were put in an order or sequence. Lydia Davis cowdayentry share on social
I do see an interest in writing for Twitter. Lydia Davis interesttwitterwrite Change image and share on social
I don't pare down much. I write the beginning of a story in a notebook and it comes out very close to what it will be in the end. There is not much deliberateness about it. Lydia Davis beginclosedeliberateness Change image and share on social
If I was writing about an academic or a more difficult person, I would use the Latinate vocabulary more, but I do think Anglo-saxon is the language of emotion. Lydia Davis academicanglodifficult Change image and share on social
I never dream in French, but certain French words seem better or more fun than English words - like 'pois chiches' for chick peas! Lydia Davis chicheschickdream Change image and share on social
