It seems disingenuous to ask a writer why she, or he, is writing about a violent subject when the world and history are filled with violence. Joyce Carol Oates disingenuousfillhistory Change image and share on social
'The Accursed' is very much a novel about social injustice as the consequence of the terrible, tragic division of classes - the exploitation not only of poor and immigrant workers but of their young children in factories and mills - and as the consequence of race hatred in the aftermath of the Civil War and the freeing of the slaves. Joyce Carol Oates accursedaftermathchild share on social
When people say there is too much violence in my books, what they are saying is there is too much reality in life. Joyce Carol Oates booklifepeople 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
As a child. I grew up on a small farm, so I did a lot of drawings of animals, chickens and people. At the bottom of every page, I'd put a strange scribble. I was emulating adult handwriting, though I didn't actually know how to write. Joyce Carol Oates adultanimalbottom share on social
I should say, one of the things about being a widow or a widower, you really, really need a sense of humor, because everything's going to fall apart. Joyce Carol Oates fallhumorsense Change image and share on social
Criticism is, for me, like essay writing, a wonderful way of relaxation; it doesn't require a heightened and mediated voice, like prose fiction, but rather a calm, rational, even conversational voice. Joyce Carol Oates calmconversationalcriticism Change image and share on social
Nothing is accidental in the universe - this is one of my Laws of Physics - except the entire universe itself, which is Pure Accident, pure divinity. Joyce Carol Oates accidentaccidentaldivinity Change image and share on social
I write in longhand and assemble lots of notes, and then I try to collate them into a coherent chronology. It's like groping along in the dark. I like writing and find it challenging, but I don't find it easy. Joyce Carol Oates assemblechallengechronology share on social
I don't read for amusement, I read for enlightenment. I do a lot of reviewing, so I have a steady assignment of reading. I'm also a judge for the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, which gives awards to literature and nonfiction. Joyce Carol Oates amusementanisfieldassignment share on social