Jami Attenberg
Jami Attenberg
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.
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.
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
exercise sometimes
Sometimes, things are just exercises.
jobs believe thinking
Writers have a job to do. Editors do, too. You have to stand ground and cede ground on a case by case basis. When an editor tells me something isn't working and I still believe in it, I tend to think it just isn't working hard enough.
reading giving kind
I love doing readings. I could really give a crap about reviews. It's kind of about the readers.
firsts stories wanted
I've just always written, and always considered myself a writer. I wrote my first story when I was five. There was nothing else I wanted to do or be.