White Oleander was a very intense read for me at the time. I had no idea then I would someday write and then complete what was a very cathartic process for me. Your advise 'read hard books, you don't get better playing tennis with someone your own level', applies to writing hard books! Do you agree? (Had to have the Q in there...) Thanks for friending!

Janet Fitch You want to definitely fill your consciousness with the conversation of great literature, what's already been done, what's being done right now, exposing yourself to the range of possibilities. That's your tool chest, your treasure chest, your workshop.

But I never think about writing hard books per se... I certainly want the average person to enjoy my work, but I want to provide a nourishing meal for a reader, not just push words around. I want to give them something unexpected, something that pushes through to the bigger issues of life on earth, encouraging people to think bigger thoughts about life. People in my books hopefully don't drive and just think about driving. They drive and something triggers a bigger thought about the world.

Writers generally don't think they're going to write 'hard books.' They just allow themselves full access to their abilities. My writing teacher, Kate Braverman, used to say, "Write for the five smartest people you know." What that does is make sure you don't censor yourself. You'll never go wrong assuming your reader is every bit as smart as you and then some. Don't look down on your reader, and you won't' limit yourself in what you can do out of fear people won't understand. People will understand you, and will love seeing just how good you can be.

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