Erskine Caldwell Quotes

Many Southern writers must have learned the art of storytelling from listening to oral tales. I did. It gave me the knowledge that the simplest incident can make a story.

Influence is a very tenuous matter. I try to avoid it in every respect. I don't want to be influenced by anybody.

I was not a writer to begin with; I was a listener.

To me there is no such thing as creative writing. It's either good writing, whatever the subject, or it's not creative.

I'm not interested in plots. I'm interested only in the characterization of people and what they do.

You don't love Buck. If you did, you'd have four kids by now. Wouldn't you? Now wouldn't you? A woman like you...