When I'm writing a novel, which is what I like to write, I get up early, sit zazen, make a pot of green tea. I wear wrist cuffs to keep my wrists warm and minimize irritation from extended contact with the surface of my desk. I sit down and write. Ruth Ozeki contactcuffdesk share on social
I've always played that edge of fact and fiction. I used to be a filmmaker, and certainly in film that's a line that filmmakers cross more readily and more easily than novelists. Ruth Ozeki crosseasilyedge Change image and share on social
People have always heard voices. Sometimes they're called shamans, sometimes they're called mad, and sometimes they're called fiction writers. I always feel lucky that I live in a culture where fiction writing is legal and not seen as pathology. Ruth Ozeki callculturefeel share on social
I am really interested in the way we relate to time. In particular, the way readers and writers talk to each other. Casting your voice out into the future is very beautiful to me. Ruth Ozeki beautifulcastfuture Change image and share on social
I think all characters are facets of the writer. In a way, they have to be if you're going to write them convincingly. Ruth Ozeki characterconvincinglyfacet Change image and share on social
The American society around me looked at me and saw Japanese. Then, when I was 19, I went to Japan for the first time. And suddenly - what a shock - I realized I wasn't Japanese; they saw me as American. It was an enormous relief. Now I just appreciate being exactly in the middle. Ruth Ozeki americanenormousjapan share on social
I live in a beautiful part of British Columbia, and I run through the rainforest. I do have to look over my shoulder to check for a cougar or a wolf though, so sometimes it's not the most relaxing. Ruth Ozeki beautifulbritishcheck Change image and share on social
Canada has always been a great place for literature. It's strong and growing stronger, and there will always be reading, and there will always be great writers. Ruth Ozeki canadagreatgrow Change image and share on social
When I start writing these novels, I go into them with a spirit of inquiry rather than to substantiate prejudices I had in the beginning. If you don't do that, you can't write good characters. Ruth Ozeki begincharactergood Change image and share on social
Inspiration comes from everything from the entire world, and it's hard to pinpoint one thing. I can trace one inspiration to the writing of 13th-century Zen master Dogen Zenji, who writes beautifully about time. Ruth Ozeki 13thbeautifullycentury share on social
