“Training to be a therapist teaches you to shut up and listen, and that...” — Amy Bloom Quote

“Training to be a therapist teaches you to shut up and listen, and that is certainly useful as a writer.”

“Keep your mouth shut and see what's happening around you. Don't finish people's sentences for them. Don't just hear what they say, but also how they behave while they're saying it. That was great training for writing.”

“My job is to form the people, the story, the sentences. Every reader will bring their own life and their own history to the story and shape it accordingly. I guess you can say it's like I am sending them a letter.”

“I think it is unwise to shut down the government.”

“The government shut down 12 times under Democratic House Speaker Tip O'Neill. It was only shut down twice while I was speaker.”

“My advice to all interviewers is: Shut up and listen. It's harder than it sounds.”