Donald E. Westlake Quotes

American - Writer | July 12, 1933 - December 31, 2008

Who's a boy gonna talk to if not his mother?

Donald E. Westlake

MotherMother's DayBoyTalkHis

I start with the story, almost in the old campfire sense, and the story leads to both the characters, which actors should best be cast in this story, and the language. The choice of words, more than anything else, creates the feeling that the story gives off.

Donald E. Westlake

BestWordsStartStoryLanguageOld

Everybody in New York is looking for something. Once in a while, somebody finds it.

Donald E. Westlake

New YorkLookingNewSomethingOnce

A friend of mine, now retired, was then a major exec at a major bank, and one of her jobs, the last four years, was the farewell interview.

Donald E. Westlake

FriendNowBankInterviewYearsHer

All of the changes in publishing since 1960 are significant. There are far fewer publishers.

Donald E. Westlake

ChangesSignificantFarPublishing

I also wanted Parker to operate in the Internet age without losing being Parker. He's always operated in the world without really being with the world, and cyberspace means that the rest of us are more and more living the same way.

Donald E. Westlake

AgeLosingWorldRestInternetWay

I loved it, but social reality impeded. Now I wander in here at 9 in the morning or so, and come back for a while in the afternoon. I am a very lenient boss.

Donald E. Westlake

MorningBossI AmRealityLovedNow

I make a note, set it aside, and hope it makes sense when the time comes to look at it again.

Donald E. Westlake

HopeTimeLookSenseNoteAgain

If it weren't for received ideas, the publishing industry wouldn't have any ideas at all.

Donald E. Westlake

IdeasIndustryPublishingAnyWere

If you think of movie studio executives, say, as society, then I root for the independent producers.

Donald E. Westlake

SocietyThinkYouSayIndependent

My work schedule has changed over the years. The one constant is, when at work on a novel, I try to work seven days a week, so as not to lose touch with that world. Within that, I'm flexible on hours and output.

Donald E. Westlake

WorkWorldWeekLoseFlexibleTry

Nothing about it interested me. Or about anything else, except making up stories. If literacy weren't so nearly universal, God knows what I'd be. A drain on the State, I shouldn't wonder.

Donald E. Westlake

GodMeWonderNothingUpAnything

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