As a farm girl, even when I was quite young, I had my 'farm chores' - but I had time also to be alone, to explore the fields, woods and creek... →
Joyce Carol Oates
After my husband died, I could not write much - I could not concentrate. I was too exhausted most of the time even to contemplate writing. But I did... →
As a teacher at Princeton, I'm surrounded by people who work hard so I just make good use of my time. And I don't really think of it as work... →
My theory is that literature is essential to society in the way that dreams are essential to our lives. We can't live without dreaming - as we... →
A writer can't subtract or excise any of his/her past because doing so would erase the work produced during that time.
I probably spend 90% of my time revising what I've written.
No, the thing is, we all love storytelling, and as a writer you get to tell stories all the time.
My own way of writing is very meditated and, despite my reputation, rather slow-moving. So I do spend a good deal of time contemplating endings. The... →
Probably nothing serious or worthwhile can be accomplished without one's willingness to be alone for sustained periods of time, which is not to... →
After my parents passed away - in 2000 and 2003 - I felt I could take the time to think about the past and imagine what it would have been like to be... →