But novels are never about what they are about; that is, there is always deeper, or more general, significance. The author may not be aware of this till she is pretty far along with it. Diane Johnson More Quotes by Diane Johnson More Quotes From Diane Johnson But novels are never about what they are about; that is, there is always deeper, or more general, significance. The author may not be aware of this till she is pretty far along with it. A novel's whole pattern is rarely apparent at the outset of writing, or even at the end; that is when the writer finds out what a novel is about, and the job becomes one of understanding and deepening or sharpening what is already written. That is finding the theme. Diane Johnson understanding writing jobs Women have the feeling that since they didn't make the rules, the rules have nothing to do with them. Diane Johnson work feelings ...is this not in fact the purpose of young Americans going abroad? To make them think of things they never thought of? Diane Johnson purpose facts thinking Not having to own a car has made me realize what a waste of time the automobile is. Diane Johnson wasting-time waste car Any essayist setting out on a frail apparatus of notings and jottings is a brave person. Diane Johnson brave-person frail persons A chaplain's biggest gift is to be present and just listen. Diane Johnson chaplains just-listen Glenda Adams has written a wicked and witty novel. Diane Johnson wicked novel witty Statuettes of drunken sailors, velvet pictures of island maidens, plastic seashell lamps made in Taiwan. What contempt the people who think up souvenirs have for other people. Diane Johnson islands travel thinking In what we think of as bad dialogue, the characters talk directly to each other. Diane Johnson crafts character thinking Laughter is the jam on the toast of life. It adds flavor, keeps it from being too dry, and makes it easier to swallow. Diane Johnson laughter jam add The whole process of writing a novel is having this great, beautiful idea and then spoiling it. Diane Johnson writing beautiful ideas The Novelist, afraid his ideas may be foolish, slyly puts them in the mouth of some other fool and reserves the right to disavow them. Diane Johnson novelists mouths ideas
