Jami Attenberg
Jami Attenberg
book drinking writing
I wish I had the luxury of time to read and write like grad students do. That sounds pretty awesome. When I was writing my first book one of my friends was going to grad school at the same time and I heard a lot of stories about drinking, too. I feel like everyone was having affairs.
reading mean writing
Studying writing to me means reading and also rewriting obsessively. That's the best way to learn.
believe writing thinking
The very best parts of me go into my writing, it is the best version of myself, and I don't think it's hubristic to believe that that's worth something, worth someone else's time. It's the most I have to offer the world.
writing sitting-still wish
I wish I could write while I'm on the road but it never works for me. I need to be sitting still.
book writing lasts
My last book was speculative. I just don't quite know what I am doing. But I'll get there. I have a list of things I would love to write.
writing emotional historical-novels
I've been told by people who write historical novels that you just sort of write the emotional truth first, the story at the core, and then you go back and research it at the end.
crazy writing epic
I'd love to be able to write crazy epic plots. I'm working on it.
writing thinking contemporary-fiction
Most of my writer friends are women, and they're all extremely talented, so of course I think the state of contemporary fiction for women is pretty great. Which is to say there is a ton of amazing work out there. These women are writing hard. There's much to be said. We're on it, chief.
When we are young - or even 32 - we often say 'yes' to everything because we're worried that we won't know what we'll like if we don't try it.
detail eats eye favorite food
What a character eats is a detail - like eye color or a favorite song. But food is also our lifeblood.
We've all got flesh. I've just got a little more.
smoking challenges quitting
You can quit smoking, and never have to have a cigarette again to survive. But with food, it is a daily challenge.
issues faces fascinating
The fascinating thing about food is that if you have issues with it, you have to face it every single day.
book thinking trying
It's good to try stuff. I wrote a book that I threw away, and I think I just wrote it so I could try stuff in it and not be scared