Arthur Nersesian
“The best reason to live in New York City is to discover the endless hidden treasures in its many neighborhoods.
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In this online exclusive we ask authors to share books, art, music, writing prompts, films—anything and everything—that has inspired them in their writing. We see this as a place for writers to turn to for ideas that will help feed their creative process.
“The best reason to live in New York City is to discover the endless hidden treasures in its many neighborhoods.
“Always tucked in a pocket of my purse is a Moleskine journal. I try to write every day, no matter what
“As with most fiction writers, I can be inspired by virtually anything: a song, a kiss, a cup of coffee, an overheard conversation.
“I walk around my apartment and read aloud from The Norton Anthology of Poetry.
“I’ve spent six or seven years reading The Man Without Qualities—sometimes I read it all the way through and sometimes random excerpts of it.
“I devour psychology books because they help me understand my characters
“As a teenager, I spent hours dreaming up plots for books. This was something I felt was cooler than going to the mall,
“When I was eight years old my mother found me beneath my younger brother's crib in the fetal position and sweating. I was sick with a terrible fever.
“Every week, my mailbox explodes with magazines—National Geographic, the New Yorker, O, and People.
“Don't take notes. This is counterintuitive, but bear with me.