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
We are all regionalists in our origins, however 'universal' our themes and characters, and without our cherished hometowns and childhood landscapes to nourish us, we would be like plants set in shallow soil. Our souls must take root - almost literally. Joyce Carol Oates charactercherishchildhood share on social
You need so much energy and encouragement to write that if someone says something negative, some of that energy goes. Joyce Carol Oates encouragementenergynegative Change image and share on social
I was writing novels in high school and apprenticed myself in a way both to Faulkner and to Hemingway. Joyce Carol Oates apprenticefaulknerhemingway Change image and share on social
A writer can't subtract or excise any of his/her past because doing so would erase the work produced during that time. Joyce Carol Oates eraseexcisepast Change image and share on social
To be true to life, a novel must have an ending that is inevitable given the specific personalities of the characters involved. The novelist must not impose an ending upon them. Joyce Carol Oates characterendimpose Change image and share on social
If you are a writer you locate yourself behind a wall of silence and no matter what you are doing, driving a car or walking or doing housework you can still be writing, because you have that space. Joyce Carol Oates cardrivehousework 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
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
Night comes to the desert all at once, as if someone turned off the light. Joyce Carol Oates desertlightnight Change image and share on social
