Amanda Rea on Creative Nonfiction, Writer Worship, & Clan of the Cave Bear

"I wrote several stories about people living in trailer houses, and was told by well-intentioned readers that my descriptions might offend actual trailer-livers. One even purported to know someone who'd grown up in a trailer, and offered to put me in touch. Experiences like that led me to dispense with the fiction and just say: this was our trailer. This was our life. In some cases, the “mask” feels like it’s just inhibiting things."

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Adam Johnson and Stephen Elliot on Dialogue

“…I always build a similar escape mechanism in, a rip cord. Knowing that I'll be able to safely end highly charged dialog gives me permission to let my characters clash.”~Adam  

“Every character wants to do something to every other character. Probably either hurt them or have sex with them or ingratiate themselves in some way. Which, isn't so different from real life. Except, in real life, we're less concise.”~Stephen

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