Honorary degrees and lifetime achievement awards are very encouraging. I know that it might sound strange that a writer who has published many books still needs encouragement, but this is true. Joyce Carol Oates achievementawardbook Change image and share on social
When I wrote 'We Were The Mulvaneys,' I was just old enough to look back upon my own family life and the lies of certain individuals close to me, with the detachment of time. I wanted to tell the truth about secrets: How much pain they give, yet how much relief, even happiness we may feel when at last the motive for secrecy has passed. Joyce Carol Oates backclosedetachment share on social
If food is poetry, is not poetry also food? Joyce Carol Oates foodpoetry Change image and share on social
I've always been interested in writing about people, including young children who are not able to speak for themselves. As in my novel 'Black Water,' I provide a voice for someone who has died and can't speak for herself. Joyce Carol Oates blackchilddie share on social
I could never take the idea of religion very seriously. Joyce Carol Oates ideareligion Change image and share on social
People have libraries at home, they have bookshelves, they have CDs. And they sort of try, people try to bring great artists into their lives, into their physical houses and sort of live with portions of them. But they're not really deeply engaging with them. Joyce Carol Oates artistbookshelfbring share on social
Boxing is a celebration of the lost religion of masculinity all the more trenchant for its being lost. Joyce Carol Oates boxcelebrationlose 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
I always rewrite the very beginning of a novel. I rewrite the beginning as I write the ending, so I may spend part of morning writing the ending, the last 100 pages approximately, and then part of the morning revising the beginning. So the style of the novel has a consistency. Joyce Carol Oates approximatelybeginconsistency share on social
Primarily, 'Black Girl/White Girl' is the story of two very different, yet somehow 'fated' girls; for Genna, her 'friendship' with Minette is the most haunting of her life, though it is one-sided and ends in tragedy. Joyce Carol Oates blackendfate share on social