Lucia Berlin: Writing Advice and More in This Never-Before Published Interview

I just write what seems to me to feel true. To feel emotionally true. When there’s emotional truth, there follows a rhythm, and I think a beauty of image, because you’re seeing clearly. Because of the simplicity of what you see.

My stories seem to be about me, but usually it’s when I feel love toward other people that the story comes. And just the joy of being alive. So [I can’t write] if I’m thinking about myself all the time. Say, about my backaches. I think it’s a very spiritual state. It’s almost like a religion. It sounds corny, but it’s like saying a prayer or singin... See more

Once I write a story, it’s gone, it’s like it’s not mine anymore. And I’m not tempted to edit it or change it.

When I first started to write, I was alone. My first husband had left me, I was homesick, my parents had disowned me because I had married so young and divorced. I just wrote to—to go home. It was like a place to be where I felt I was safe. And so I write to fix a reality.

If someone says I have spinach between my teeth, I’m suicidal. But if someone criticizes my writing I’m fine, because it’s mine. So I’m all right. Even if a magazine editor complains that my story is “too small,” then I may get cross, but it’s still my story .

Take what you can of criticism, but stick with your own gut feelings. That’s really, really important. I was discouraged for a long time before I came to that point, where I realized, “Hey, I’m writing for me,” and I didn’t care about [the rest]. I think that’s the most important—especially with all these workshops and all these people telling you ... See more

when you write you want someone to hear it. You do. I mean I don’t write thinking, “Oh Adrian and Kellie are going to love this.” But it’s just that the act of writing comes from a feeling, for me, of connectedness, usually. Or figuring why do I feel at one with this place or with these people or in this job or in this situation. And so just the ac... See more