I survived many a youth hostel bunk room reading Tolstoy by flashlight. Maria Semple bunkflashlighthostel Change image and share on social
My father was a screenwriter, and I kind of grew up in that world. Maria Semple fathergrowkind Change image and share on social
I steer clear of any novel that gets billed as a 'meditation.' Maria Semple billclearmeditation Change image and share on social
In TV writing, I felt like Gulliver being tied down by the Lilliputians. There's so much more freedom in fiction writing. Maria Semple feltfictionfreedom Change image and share on social
My talent isn't so much in traditional research as in finding really smart people and badgering them with questions. Maria Semple badgerfindpeople Change image and share on social
I know what it's like to feel snobby; I know what it's like to feel anxiety; I know what it's like to feel like busted because you're crazy. Maria Semple anxietybustcrazy Change image and share on social
I love epistolary novels and became wildly excited when the form presented itself to me. Maria Semple epistolaryexciteform Change image and share on social
When you become a parent, that's a whole new level of life intruding. Nobody tells you how boring and time-sucking it's going to be! Or how the responsibility feels like an airbag going off in your life. Maria Semple airbagborefelt share on social
I don't mind finding these ugly sides to my personality and exaggerating them because that's something you can write towards. Maria Semple exaggeratefindmind Change image and share on social
If I had written something, and I had written myself into a corner, I didn't abandon it. Because I remembered: There's always more. Maria Semple abandoncornerremember Change image and share on social