Of the widow's countless death-duties there is really just one that matters: on the first anniversary of her husband's death the widow should think I kept myself alive.
Joyce Carol OatesRead
Writing is a consequence of having been 'haunted' by material. Why this is, no one knows.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writing emerges from an obsession or deep engagement with material, and its mystery remains unexplained.
In this quote, Joyce Carol Oates explores the idea that the act of writing is driven by an intense connection to the material or themes that inspire the writer. This haunting connection suggests that writers are often compelled by forces beyond their understanding, highlighting the enigmatic nature of creativity and the subconscious influences that shape artistic expression.
Themes
WritingCreativityInspirationMaterialArtistic Expression
In practice
Example use cases
During a writing workshop, I quoted Joyce Carol Oates to emphasize the drive behind creative writing.
More from Joyce Carol Oates
All quotes βI never really knew I wanted to 'be' a writer, but I was always writing from a very young age. It became more conscious as an ideal when I was in my twenties.
Joyce Carol OatesRead
I'm drawn to write about upstate New York in the way in which a dreamer might have recurring dreams. My childhood and girlhood were spent in upstate New York, in the country north of Buffalo and West of Rochester. So this part of New York state is very familiar to me and, with its economic difficulties, has become emblematic of much of American life.
Joyce Carol OatesRead
My writing is often a way of 'bearing witness' for others who lack the education and the opportunity to tell their own stories, so I hope that my writing won't be affected too much by my personal life.
Joyce Carol OatesRead
The worst cynicism: a belief in luck.
Joyce Carol OatesRead
. . . there is a wish in the heart of mankind to be distracted and confused. Truth is but one attraction, and not always the most powerful.
Joyce Carol OatesRead
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Artists are taught to be humble about their impact, especially in folk music. It's so ingrained that I have a hard time even thinking I had any impact other than what a normal hit song would have.
Janis IanRead