Writing requires an intense inner focus, and sometimes you need to express outward, physically or socially. Mary Gaitskill expressfocusintense Change image and share on social
Not being locked into one set of feelings, which you run the risk of mistaking for the truth, you have greater and more intense access to all feeling states, including those you would never choose to act out. Mary Gaitskill accessactchoose share on social
I've noticed women my age and a little younger, anywhere from 35 to 50, saying, 'Who would want to bring kids into a world like this?' Or, 'I don't want to spend my life that way. I want to do my artwork.' And they're very unapologetically stating this. Mary Gaitskill ageartworkbring share on social
Where I grew up, in the Detroit area, there was a really good station. Sometimes you would hear songs for the first time on the radio, and if a really special song came on, somebody would turn it up, and everybody would just stop talking. Mary Gaitskill areadetroitgood share on social
Stories mimic life like certain insects mimic leaves and twigs. Mary Gaitskill insectleaflife Change image and share on social
My first and strongest memories about perfume come from childhood, from my mother, and they are a complex blend of her private and public selves. Mary Gaitskill blendchildhoodcomplex Change image and share on social
I think that with the proliferation of writing programs, people tend to forget that you also have to get used to working alone, and you have to be your own support. Mary Gaitskill forgetpeopleprogram Change image and share on social
At 16, I was in Toronto and very shy and not hanging around with anyone who was intellectual in the slightest, so I didn't really have the means to discuss what I was seeing and feeling. Mary Gaitskill discussfelthang Change image and share on social
People say that if you talk too much about sex, you take away the mystery. I say, if you're somebody who likes to talk, talk all you want - it's not listening. You will never take away the mystery. Mary Gaitskill likelistenmystery Change image and share on social
