The relationship between parents and children, but especially between mothers and daughters, is tremendously powerful, scarcely to be comprehended in any rational way. Joyce Carol Oates childcomprehenddaughter Change image and share on social
Boxing is about being hit rather more than it is about hitting, just as it is about feeling pain, if not devastating psychological paralysis, more than it is about winning. Joyce Carol Oates boxdevastatefelt Change image and share on social
Dust jackets are always something of an enigma to me. Joyce Carol Oates dustenigmajacket Change image and share on social
When I complete a novel I set it aside, and begin work on short stories, and eventually another long work. When I complete that novel I return to the earlier novel and rewrite much of it. In the meantime the second novel lies in a desk drawer. Joyce Carol Oates begincompletedesk share on social
Love is an indescribable sensation - perhaps a conviction, a sense of certitude. Joyce Carol Oates certitudeconvictionindescribable Change image and share on social
I think whenever we think of our hometowns, we tend to think of very specific people: with whom you rode on the school bus, who was your next door neighbor you were playing with, who your girlfriend was. It's always something very specific. Joyce Carol Oates busdoorgirlfriend share on social
I probably spend 90% of my time revising what I've written. Joyce Carol Oates haverevisespend Change image and share on social
I'm drawn to failure. I feel like I'm contending with it constantly in my own life. Joyce Carol Oates constantlycontenddraw Change image and share on social
My writing is often a way of 'bearing witness' for others who lack the education and the opportunity to tell their own stories, so I hope that my writing won't be affected too much by my personal life. Joyce Carol Oates affectbeareducation share on social
I don't teach literature from my perspective as 'Joyce Carol Oates.' I try to teach fiction from the perspective of each writer. If I'm teaching a story by Hemingway, my endeavor is to present the story that Hemingway wrote in its fullest realization. Joyce Carol Oates carolendeavorfiction share on social
