Artists and writers have to deal with the element that makes the real real and the dream real while you are dreaming it. That's where stories and poems get their power. Ben Okri artistdealdream Change image and share on social
Home can be the friend you have been searching for all your life or the person you met once very briefly. Ben Okri brieflyfriendhome Change image and share on social
If you are working in an office, where do you find the time to write a novel? But you can finish a short story in five pages. Furthermore, a short story is a perfect place to learn the craft. Ben Okri craftfindfinish Change image and share on social
I'm conscious of a series of circles working its way through my life. And at this particular moment I have come round to the beginning of my writing cycle. It begins with poetry. There's hardly a day that goes past on which I don't write poetry. Ben Okri begincircleconscious share on social
I began my writing life as a poet, so poetry has always been fundamental. I evolved from poetry to journalism to stories to novels. But poetry was always there. Ben Okri beginevolvefundamental Change image and share on social
Reading is an act of civilization; it's one of the greatest acts of civilization because it takes the free raw material of the mind and builds castles of possibilities. Ben Okri actbuildcastle Change image and share on social
To sustain your belief through situations that completely undermine it is quite something. Ben Okri beliefcompletelysituation Change image and share on social
Reading, like writing, is a creative act. If readers only bring a narrow range of themselves to the book, then they'll only see their narrow range reflected in it. Ben Okri actbookbring Change image and share on social
At the heart of 'The Famished Road' is a philosophical conundrum - for me, an essential one: what is reality? Everybody's reality is subjective; it's conditioned by upbringing, ideas, temperament, religion, what's happened to you. Ben Okri conditionconundrumessential share on social
