“Literature, of course, is not a contest.” — Lorrie Moore Quote

Literature, of course, is not a contest.

An author's life is different, complex, and ongoing, while a character's remains frozen in one little story.

To me, writing is much freer than dancing. With writing, you could do it whenever you wanted. You didn't have to do little exercises and stay in shape. You could have great moments of inspiration that advanced the story. In dance, unless you're going to choreograph things yourself, you're at the service of someone else.

A story is a kind of biopsy of human life. A story is both local, specific, small, and deep, in a kind of penetrating, layered, and revealing way.

My child was one of Nature's Tories pitted against a mother who was one of nurture's Lefties: it was no contest.

I just go into a contest looking to put down a good run. As long as I feel like I've done what I came to do, and I'm happy with my riding, where I end up doesn't matter that much to me.

I prefer career artists that have spent time honing their craft, as opposed to, 'I won a karaoke contest on a reality show and now I have a record.' That's such a drag. The music that comes out of it is so poor.

Making economic policy isn't a popularity contest, especially when financial markets are in a panic.