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Writing is a mode of being. If I write I live.

Bernard Malamud

Somewhere I put it this way: first drafts are for learning what one’s fiction wants him to say. Revision works with that knowledge to enlarge and enhance an idea, to reform it. Revision is one of the exquisite pleasures of writing.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Ideas Reform Revision Work Writing
Reader, I am myself the subject of my book; you would be unreasonable to spend your leisure on so frivolous and so vain a matter.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Book Frivolous Leisure Matter
We didn’t starve but nobody ate chicken unless we were sick or the chicken was.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Poor Poverty Sick
How can we be strangers if we both believe in God?
BERNARD MALAMUD

Believe Both God Stranger
When I don’t feel hurt, I hope they bury me.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Bury Feels Hope Hurt
First drafts are for learning what your story is about.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Draft Firsts Learn Stories
Overnight business could go down enough to hurt; yet as a rule it slowly recovered-sometimes it seemed to take forever-went up, not high enough to be really up, only not down.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Down Forever Hurt Obstacles Overnight
One’s fantasy goes for a walk and returns with a bride.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Fantasy Funn Marriage Return
Where to look if you’ve lost your mind?
BERNARD MALAMUD

Looks Lost Mind
I love metaphor. It provides two loaves where there seems to be one. Sometimes it throws in a load of fish.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Metaphor Sometimes Two
No use fanning up hot coals when you have to walk across them.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Across Anger Coal Hot
All my life I wanted to accomplish something worthwhile-a thing people will say took a little something.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Accomplishment Littles People
Life is a tragedy full of joy.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Follow Joy Life Your Heart
You can’t eat language but it eases thirst.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Ease Language Thirst
A man has to construct, invent, his freedom.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Constructs Freedom Invent Men
In my dreams I ate and I ate my dreams.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Ate Dream Success

Writing is a mode of being. If I write I live.

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Writing is a mode of being. If I write I live.

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