I like birthday cake. It's so symbolic. It's a tempting symbol to load with something more complicated than just 'Happy birthday!' because it's this emblem of childhood and a happy day.
Aimee Bender

I write on a very strict 2-hour-a-day schedule, and I really respond to structure and invented rules. So even if I'm finding out good information on a character, I will stop when I'm set to stop.
Aimee Bender

Some creative writing programs seem evil, but my experience at Irvine was totally the opposite, where I feel like they were really good at focusing in on each writers voice and setting. When I felt like I was obligated to write a story that was more typical, no one really liked it.
Aimee Bender

There's a spectrum of those moments of connection and the moments we fail to connect, going from super-large successes to failures. Success would be love, I guess, and failure could still be love, but the bad side; and loss.
Aimee Bender

I liked Hans Christian Andersen because the tales were so dark and tragic.
Aimee Bender

In terms of foods for me, I think I have more of the usual associations - foods from childhood that I associate with care and love, from relatives or special restaurants like the kind elderly man who dusted seasoning salt on French fries at the corner burger joint.
Aimee Bender

As a kid, I often figured it was good to be patient to a fault.
Aimee Bender

I really like feeling connected to people and feeling like I have a good, solid sense of empathy.
Aimee Bender

When language is treated beautifully and interestingly, it can feel good for the body: It's nourishing; it's rejuvenating.
Aimee Bender

I like the idea of a place that is dealing with painful, messy, frightening, and very human events that is also so beautiful and ethereal.
Aimee Bender

Writing can be a frightening, distressing business, and whatever kind of structure or buffer is available can help a lot.
Aimee Bender

As a kid, I liked making up stories, and I wrote a story about a kangaroo and a bat with Christy Chang, and she went on to become a surgeon.
Aimee Bender

I love the idea of numerology, but I don't really believe in it. But I like thinking about what numbers convey.
Aimee Bender

I'm obsessed with adolescence. I love to write about people in their 20s. It's such a fraught and exciting and kind of horrible time.
Aimee Bender

Generally, I think most of my writing tends to have some kind of magical element to it. That's the way I can access the emotional life of the character.
Aimee Bender

I find I can write for two lines, and then I have nothing else to say. For me, the only way to find something comes through the sentence level and sticking with the sentences that give a subtle feeling that there's something more to say.
Aimee Bender

I noticed, when I taught elementary school, how true the squeaky wheel thing is, and how endearing squeaky wheels can be! Because when you're being a squeaky wheel, you're also really letting people know who you are.
Aimee Bender

One thing I don't want to feel is marketplace pressure, so I'm really glad I enjoy teaching because I can rely on that for a salary. I think it would be such a different game if I had to write a book that has to sell well.
Aimee Bender

For me as a person, friendships are incredibly important to me, but in writing, they can distract me.
Aimee Bender

Granted, I'm someone who loves words. I've always loved poetry - so it's suited to me.
Aimee Bender

I have trouble describing my own style, since it's sort of like describing my own eye color or something.
Aimee Bender

I love all the arts - so museums, theatre, music, walks near trees or by the ocean, time with people, psychological readings.
Aimee Bender

I love food. I'm not a great cook, but I love to cook, and I like how different it is from writing.
Aimee Bender

Language is the ticket to plot and character, after all, because both are built out of language.
Aimee Bender

Large meadows are lovely for picnics and romping, but they are for the lighter feelings. Meadows do not make me want to write.
Aimee Bender

At readings, audience members sometimes ask if I keep writing past the two hours if I'm on a roll, but I don't. I figure that if I'm on a roll, it's partially because I know I'm about to stop.
Aimee Bender