Literary Birthday – 4 January – Harlan Coben

Happy Birthday, Harlan Coben, born 4 January 1962.

Harlan Coben Quotes

1. I never bought the excuse of not having time to write. If you really want to do it, you’re either going to find those hours or eventually decide not to be a writer.
2. What I truly love about writing crime novels is that its form compels you to tell a story. That’s why I think it’s so popular and why I truly believe we are currently living in a golden age of crime fiction.
3. Listen, I don’t care what you call me, as long as you read my book. One of the most annoying things writers say is that they only write for themselves and they don’t care if anyone reads it.
4. I set the reader up and then I start twisting.
5. I read Parker’s Spenser series in college. When it comes to detective novels, 90 percent of us admit he’s an influence, and the rest of us lie about it.
6. The actual writing time is a lot shorter than the thinking time. I don’t do too many notes. I keep it mostly in my head. I usually start writing a new book around January, and it’s due October 1.
7. People ask what my hobbies are. I don’t have hobbies. I don’t, because when I’m doing anything else, I feel like I’m supposed to be writing.
8. The only thing an aspiring author needs to worry about is writing the best book that they possibly can. If the book is gripping and moving, it’ll sell no matter what.
9. I like to read crime fiction. I know a lot of authors who don’t read in their fields of work, and especially when writing a novel, because they feel that they might somehow be influenced by what they’re reading. At this stage of my career, I feel my writing voice is my own, which may not have been the case when I started.
10. I don’t outline. I usually know the ending before I start. I know very little about what happens in between.
11. My advice would be to NOT try to market or sell your novel until it is done. I mean, completely done, done done, fully-finished and ready to go, and a few other redundant phrases like that.
12. I do suggest that you find an agent. There are many sources for that (the Writer’s Market is one). Then write the agents a fabulous one-page query letter that reads like the greatest flap copy in history. Make them hunger for more.

Harlan Coben is an American author of mystery novels and thrillers. With 90 million books in print, Harlan Coben has written 35 novels. His stories, which include Tell No One, Six Years, and The Woods, are published in 46 languages. His latest is Gone Before Goodbye, written with Reese Witherspoon. He is the first author to win all three of these awards: the Edgar Award, Shamus Award, and Anthony Award. He is the creator and producer of several of his novels’ adaptations. Follow him on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram.

Read: Harlan Coben On Writing Suspense

Source for Image

by Amanda Patterson

Are you interested in more authors’ birthdays? Please click here: Literary Birthday Calendar