When I'm writing a novel, I'm usually just trying to write about things that are interesting to me. Ruth Ozeki interestthingwrite Change image and share on social
There's something about the idea of writing, and thinking about writing as a form of prayer - the way as a writer you call out into the world and throw your words into the world. You're not praying to a god, but you're almost conjuring a reader to arrive. That's what books do: they're an invitation to readers. Ruth Ozeki arrivebookcall share on social
My mind is like a gyre, and odd juxtapositions happen. Ruth Ozeki gyrehappenjuxtaposition Change image and share on social
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
Writing is solitary. You spend so much time alone and in your own mind, telling stories. Ruth Ozeki mindsolitaryspend Change image and share on social
Any independent bookstore that has managed to survive is the best place to do a reading. Ruth Ozeki bookstoreindependentmanage Change image and share on social
It costs so much to make films. With a novel, you can write the whole thing on a ream of paper from Staples for $4. Ruth Ozeki costfilmmake Change image and share on social
Even though I was making documentaries, my films had fictional elements to them. I think I like blurring those distinctions because so much of what we see on television purports to be the truth, but it's often largely imaginary - or wishful thinking, or any number of less honorable things. Ruth Ozeki blurdistinctiondocumentary 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
Fiction is an elemental force, which has the power to shape reality in its own image - or images, I should say - because reality, like light, exists not only as a single point or particle, but also as an array of possibilities. Ruth Ozeki arrayelementalexist share on social