This is the beauty of fiction. We may not like these characters, but we inhabit them.
T. C. BoyleRead
I can't read novels while I'm writing a novel, because somebody's voice creeps in.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The author feels that reading fiction while writing can interfere with their own voice and creativity.
This quote by T. C. Boyle reflects the struggle of maintaining one's unique voice while being influenced by the works of others. For a writer, reading novels can inadvertently lead to the adoption of another author's style or story elements, which can stifle their originality and creative process.
Themes
WritingCreativityNovelsInfluenceVoice
In practice
Example use cases
A writer discussing their process in a workshop might use this quote to explain their need for creative solitude.
More from T. C. Boyle
All quotes βI don't care if the audience is 600 Saul Bellows; I'm going to knock them dead with a comedy routine. I'm out there as a missionary for literature because, if people laugh and enjoy themselves, they might actually do something as bizarre as reading the book.
T. C. BoyleRead
It's true that none of my characters are admirable. But maybe I'm primarily a satirist, and a satirist needs to hold up what's not admirable.
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Sometimes if something is entertaining and amusing, people tend to think that it doesn't have the depth of something that's dramatic. I don't think that's true.
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I hope to stay light on my feet, to work in many modes, to seek inspiration always, and avoid the fatal. But, as we all know, it is the price of life to burn out, both metaphorically and literally.
T. C. BoyleRead
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