405 Quotes by Jeff VanderMeer

There had even been an informal group – the Séance & Science Brigade – dedicated to applying ‘empirical reality to paranormal phenomenon.’ … It was the S&SB that had in effect named Area X, identifying that coast as ‘of particular interest’ and calling it ‘Active Site X’ – a name prominent on their science-inspired tarot cards.

Area X was all around them. Area X was contained in no one place or figure.

I hope to find Area X in Area X.

I like delivering a message, but what I find interesting is providing those details in a different context. Then the readers can make up their minds what it means.

I also am not particularly risk-averse - I don't mind jumping off a cliff if I trust the people who've told me they'll catch me at the bottom.

Cross-pollination and "contamination" is really important to the health of fiction, and sometimes it's a literal conversation, too, in that writers who might never otherwise meet and talk do so because of our anthologies.

The best visual book I can think of is Lynda Barry's What It Is, but although I refer to it all the time it's not a creative writing book per se.

Even a dream as inspiration doesn't mean anything unless you then find that it's sparked an actual story with a plot.

A dream inspiring a story is different than placing a description of a dream in a story. When you describe a character's dream, it has to be sharper than reality in some way, and more meaningful. It has to somehow speak to plot, character, and all the rest. If you're writing something fantastical, it can be a really deadly choice because your story already has elements that can seem dreamlike.