'A Princess of Mars' may not have exerted the same colossal pull that Tarzan had on the global imagination, but its influence on generations of readers cannot be underestimated. Junot Diaz colossalexertgeneration Change image and share on social
When I write, what I long for is not more realism or fiction but more courage. That's what I always find myself short on and what I have to struggle to achieve in order that the work might live. Junot Diaz achievecouragefiction Change image and share on social
It took me 11 years to struggle through one dumb book, and every day you just want to give up. But you don't find out you're an artist because you do something really well. Junot Diaz artistbookday Change image and share on social
There are a couple of strategies for writing about an absence or writing about a loss. One can create the person that was lost, develop the character of the fiancee. There's another strategy that one can employ, maybe riskier... Make the reader suffer the loss of the character in a more literal way. Junot Diaz absencecharactercouple share on social
I always individuate myself from other writers who say they would die if they couldn't write. For me, I'd die if I couldn't read. Junot Diaz dieindividuateread Change image and share on social
I'm one of those apocalyptics. From the start of my immigrant days, I've been fascinated by end-of-the-world stories, by outbreak narratives, and always wanted to set a world-ender on Hispaniola. Junot Diaz apocalypticsdayend Change image and share on social
I am a chatty person, but colossally discreet. Junot Diaz chattycolossallydiscreet Change image and share on social
I don't think you can be from the Caribbean and not know a certain amount about the apocalypse. Junot Diaz amountapocalypsecaribbean Change image and share on social
I feel most like myself... after I run - I go out for five miles every morning. Junot Diaz feelmilemorning Change image and share on social
I write incredibly slowly. And, on top of that, I spent my entire youth and twenties working like a dog, so one of the things that happened when I finished 'Drown' was that I got busy living. I'd never travelled, I'd never seen anything. So I did as much travelling as my job teaching would allow. Junot Diaz busydogdrown share on social