"It was a combination of an intense interest in children's literature, which I've always had, and the feeling that I'd just have a go and see if I could do it"
- Penelope Lively
About this Quote
Penelope Lively is expressing her motivation for composing children's literature. She has always had an intense interest in the category, and chose to take a chance and see if she might write her own stories. This quote shows her determination to take risks and attempt something new, even if she wasn't sure if she would achieve success. It also speaks with her enthusiasm for kids's literature, and her desire to create stories that might bring pleasure and home entertainment to young readers. Her quote is a suggestion that in some cases gambling and trying something brand-new can lead to great success.
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"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it"
