Indian - Novelist | June 20, 1952 -
Of course, I have to consider that I've written a lot of prose, but I do in my heart think of myself as being originally, and still primarily, a poet.
Vikram Seth
HeartMyselfThinkPoetBeingStill
Dear though the reader might be, I'd be silly to cater to what the reader wanted.
SillyMightThoughWantedDear
The fact is that at different stages of your life, and under the influence of different inspirations, you write different things. The point is not necessarily to find your voice, which grinds out the same sort of thing again and again, but to find a vehicle for people who are far more important than the author: the characters.
LifePeopleInfluenceVoiceYouOut
If I'm compelled to do something, I don't shy away from it simply because I haven't tackled it before.
ShyAwaySomethingBecauseSimply
I often feel newspapers are just filling up space. Of course, I also know people who write really long books.
SpacePeopleFeelLongKnowWrite
The trick to being a novelist is to act like an iceberg. Make it seem as if you're displaying only one-tenth of what you know, and the other nine-tenths isn't visible and never mind if that part is pure styrofoam!
MindYouKnowNeverPureIceberg
There are plenty of good Indian writers in English, and none of us feel we are carrying the burden of being a poster boy.
GoodFeelBurdenBoyUsEnglish
I am careful about fiction. A novel is not a tract or an essay. If I want to write about land reforms, or Hindu-Muslim relations, or position of women, I can do it as it affects my characters as in 'A Suitable Boy.' I could only write about issues specifically through essays. But I'll do that only if I have something worthwhile to say.
WomenI AmI CanSayWantLand
I think it's possible to be multi-rooted, rather like a banyan tree, without being deracinated.
TreeThinkPossibleWithoutBeing
In spite of all temptations of belonging to many nations, I've remained an Indian.
BelongingSpiteManyNationsIndian
You have to learn a few things, which you do along the way, but basically, poetry is a matter of the ear. Iambic pentameters or what constitutes a stanza comes naturally - your ears will know.
PoetryLearnYouKnowWayMatter
I don't read as much as people may expect. In fact, sometimes I feel that I should probably read more, but then I do believe that one of the big problems of our times is that there's too much reading and not enough thinking.
PeopleBelieveReadingThinkingFeel
Copyright © 2024 QuotesDict Vikram Seth quotes