The essay is a wonderful medium. I might mention that some writers who longed to be novelists were … - Phillip Lopate

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Faith is one foot on the ground, one foot in the air, and a queasy feeling in the stomach.

Phillip Lopate

The essay is a wonderful medium. I might mention that some writers who longed to be novelists were better as essayists: Sontag, Baldwin, Vidal, Mary McCarthy, Mailer.

Longed, Mccarthy, Might, Novelists, Wonderful, Writers

Same Author Quotes

The prospect of a long day at the beach makes me panic. There is no harder work I can think of than taking myself off to somewhere pleasant, where I am forced to stay for hours and 'have fun'.

Beach, Fun, Pleasant, Prospect, Work

Most good essays are conversations with yourself - not just your decided thoughts but your dilemmas.

Conversation, Decided, Dilemma, Essays, Thoughts

Doubt is my boon companion, the faithful St. Bernard ever at my side. Whether writing essays or just going about daily life, I am constantly second-guessing myself. My mind is filled with 'yes, buts,' 'so whats?' and other skeptical rejoinders. I am forever monitoring myself for traces of folly, insensitivity, arrogance, false humility, cruelty, stupidity, immaturity and, guess what, I keep finding examples. Age has not made me wiser, except maybe in retrospect.

Daily, Humility, Stupidity, Writing, Yes

The essay must be artistically rendered: You must keep the reader engaged, whether with wit, conflict, mischief, and
or yes, with honesty.

Artistically, Conflict, Honesty, Reader, Wit

In new work, we need to see the shadow, however faint, of previous literary effort.

Effort, Literary, Needs, See, Shadow

Similar Quotes

Mother Angelica

Faith is one foot on the ground, one foot in the air, and a queasy feeling in the stomach.

Air, Feelings, Feet, Queasy, Stomach

James Schuyler

What are the questions you wish to ask?

Ask, Asks, Questions, Wish

Marilyn Monroe

Like any creative human being, I would like a bit more control so that it would be a little easier for me when the director says, 'One tear, right now,' that one tear would pop out.

Creative, Inspiring, Like, Pop, Tears

John Lennon

We should be trying to reach the young workers because that's when you're most idealistic and have least fear.

Idealistic, Reach, Should, Trying, Young

Larry Winget

I've read over 4,000 books in the last 20+ years. I don't know anybody who's read more books than I have. I read all the time. I read very, very fast. People say, "Larry, it's statistically impossible for you to have read that many books. "

Book, People, Read, Say, Statistically, Years