32 Quotes by Antonya Nelson

There are a thousand things to hear about, informationally, daily, but the thing that doesn't go away is the one to pay attention to.

Birdy never felt artistic inclination when armed with a marking implement. What came to her were words, always words, commentary and criticism and correction and simple vocabulary curios; she scratched a few of them on the smooth red wall.

The most enduring battle is between head and heart; what would be efficient and logical is nearly always trumped by what is messy and illogical.

Empathy is not as complicated when you have some aspects in common with your character; it's not impossible to know someone who's like you in many ways but different in one. This is true especially if you are a reader. Reading makes you accustomed to inhabiting other lives and sensibilities.

I like the way that psychological extremity can illuminate more 'normal' characters by forcing a comparison.

I want to earn a reader's capacity to be moved.

Most of what one feels compelled to write stems from a deep emotional uncertainty.

Finding pleasure in revision is the thing I would most strongly advise to people. It's not something I did as a younger writer; I learned it over time.

I grew up with parents who were English professors at Wichita State University, and we were more liberal-minded as a family than most of the people I hung out with in Wichita. During summers, we went off to Telluride, Colorado, where I've returned every summer since I was born.