Aimee Bender
Aimee Bender
Aimee Benderis an American novelist and short story writer, known for her surreal plots and characters...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth28 June 1969
CountryUnited States of America
creative experience felt focusing good liked obligated programs seem totally voice writers
Some creative writing programs seem evil, but my experience at Irvine was totally the opposite, where I feel like they were really good at focusing in on each writers voice and setting. When I felt like I was obligated to write a story that was more typical, no one really liked it.
act experience interested myopic trying
I get a little myopic in the act of doing any writing. I think I'm not as interested or not as able to write about balance, because I think there's something I want to try to get at. I'm trying to get at something about the experience of growing up or about families.
ability cool describe experience figure human interested metaphor mine move tend
I don't eschew autobiographical writing, but I'm not interested in mine to be so straightforward. The things that tend to move me the most are often those that I have to figure out its meaning for myself. The human being's ability to make a metaphor to describe a human experience is just really cool.
ask figure hours members
At readings, audience members sometimes ask if I keep writing past the two hours if I'm on a roll, but I don't. I figure that if I'm on a roll, it's partially because I know I'm about to stop.
food great love
I love food. I'm not a great cook, but I love to cook, and I like how different it is from writing.
arts love music near time trees walks
I love all the arts - so museums, theatre, music, walks near trees or by the ocean, time with people, psychological readings.
describing since sort trouble
I have trouble describing my own style, since it's sort of like describing my own eye color or something.
loves poetry suited
Granted, I'm someone who loves words. I've always loved poetry - so it's suited to me.
enjoy glad rely sell teaching
One thing I don't want to feel is marketplace pressure, so I'm really glad I enjoy teaching because I can rely on that for a salary. I think it would be such a different game if I had to write a book that has to sell well.
elementary endearing letting people taught
I noticed, when I taught elementary school, how true the squeaky wheel thing is, and how endearing squeaky wheels can be! Because when you're being a squeaky wheel, you're also really letting people know who you are.
sentence sentences sticking subtle
I find I can write for two lines, and then I have nothing else to say. For me, the only way to find something comes through the sentence level and sticking with the sentences that give a subtle feeling that there's something more to say.
access element life magical tends
Generally, I think most of my writing tends to have some kind of magical element to it. That's the way I can access the emotional life of the character.
christy kangaroo liked wrote
As a kid, I liked making up stories, and I wrote a story about a kangaroo and a bat with Christy Chang, and she went on to become a surgeon.
available buffer business whatever
Writing can be a frightening, distressing business, and whatever kind of structure or buffer is available can help a lot.