I saw Anne Lamott at the JCC last night, here are a few memorable quotes I scribbled down from that interview.
On describing someone she had to interact with:
“And I say this without judgment, he was a nightmare.”
On Ephron’s book I Remember Nothing and forgetting your keys, putting your cell phone in your fridge:
“That’s the cute form of mental deterioration.”
On her childhood, referring to her little brother, and how as kids sometimes your job can unintentionally come to be about allaying parental neuroses and quirks:
“[He was] dancing as fast as he could to make sure mom and dad are okay because [that meant] there would be trickle down.”
Commenting on her involvement as a parent to her son’s new baby:
“Everyone gets issued an emotional acre [in life, to be how you are] … you don’t get to be a scary control freak that goes on other people’s acres” and tell them what to do.
Quoting, referencing another writer who commented on his own alcoholism/drug abuse:
“He was deteriorating faster than he could lower his values.”
Talking about today’s teenagers she commented on how teens are starving for people to pay them attention and appreciate them for who they are without the expectations of what they may or will be. “Our [inner] teenager is still alive.”
On writing (or was it seeking help?), regardless good rule for when you’re stuck:
“Take the action and the insight will follow.”
On perfectionism (relative to art/craft of writing):
“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor and an enemy of the people.”
