If certain books are to be termed 'immigrant fiction,' what do we call the rest? Native fiction? Puritan fiction? This distinction doesn't agree with me.
Jhumpa LahiriRead
For years, I sort of would try to write a story that somehow fit the title. And I don't think it happened for maybe another four years that I actually thought of a story, the plot of a story that corresponded to that phrase.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Creating a story often requires time and reflection to align with its title.
In this quote, Jhumpa Lahiri reflects on the creative process involved in writing stories. She reveals that for several years, she wrestled with crafting a narrative that matched a particular title, emphasizing the challenges and patience required in creative endeavors. It underscores the importance of allowing ideas to develop organically over time, rather than forcing them to fit preconceived notions.
Themes
StorytellingCreativityWritingProcessPatience
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, one might share this quote to illustrate the importance of allowing narratives to evolve.
More from Jhumpa Lahiri
All quotes →When I sit down to write, I don't think about writing about an idea or a given message. I just try to write a story which is hard enough.
Jhumpa LahiriRead
When I am experiencing a complex story or novel, the broader planes, and also details, tend to fall away.
Jhumpa LahiriRead
I think each time you start a story or novel or whatever, you are absolutely at the bottom of the ladder all over again. It doesn't matter what you've done before.
Jhumpa LahiriRead
The sky was different, without color, taut and unforgiving. But the water was the most unforgiving thing, nearly black at times, cold enough, I knew, to kill me, violent enough to break me apart. The waves were immense, battering rocky beaches without sand. The farther I went, the more desolate it became, more than any place I'd been, but for this very reason the landscape drew me, claimed me as nothing had in a long time.
Jhumpa LahiriRead
On the technical side, I hope that my writing is evolving and maturing, ripening, deepening.
Jhumpa LahiriRead
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