In the first in a series of posts on 2017 books entered for The Story Prize, Sofia Samatar, author of Tender (Small Beer Press), shares some pearls of wisdom.
“For me, it all begins with a notebook: it is the well I dip into for that first clear, cool drink.”
~ Rita Dove
“A writer looking for subject inquires not after what he loves best, but after what he alone loves at all.”
~ Annie Dillard
“As in everything, so in writing I am almost afraid of going too far. What can this be? Why? I restrain myself, as if I were tugging at the reins of a horse which might suddenly bolt and drag me who knows where. I protect myself. Why? For what? For what purpose am I saving myself?”
~ Clarice Lispector
“And why don't you write? Write! Writing is for you, you are for you; your body is yours, take it.”
~ Hélène Cixous
“I shall not finish my poem.
What I have written is so sweet
The flies are beginning to torment me.”
~ Hafez
“God keep me from ever completing anything. This whole book is but a draft—nay, but the draft of a draft. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!”
~ Herman Melville
“I’m always astonished whenever I finish anything. Astonished and depressed. My desire for perfection should prevent me from ever finishing anything; it should prevent me even from starting... This book represents my cowardice.”
~ Fernando Pessoa
“I write only for my shadow projected by the lamp onto the wall. I need to introduce myself to it.”
~ Sadeq Hedayat
“Writing is my health.”
~ Sylvia Plath
“Of course there is no more beautiful fate for a story than for it to disappear...”
~ Franz Kafka
“For me, it all begins with a notebook: it is the well I dip into for that first clear, cool drink.”
~ Rita Dove
“A writer looking for subject inquires not after what he loves best, but after what he alone loves at all.”
~ Annie Dillard
“As in everything, so in writing I am almost afraid of going too far. What can this be? Why? I restrain myself, as if I were tugging at the reins of a horse which might suddenly bolt and drag me who knows where. I protect myself. Why? For what? For what purpose am I saving myself?”
~ Clarice Lispector
“And why don't you write? Write! Writing is for you, you are for you; your body is yours, take it.”
~ Hélène Cixous
“I shall not finish my poem.
What I have written is so sweet
The flies are beginning to torment me.”
~ Hafez
“God keep me from ever completing anything. This whole book is but a draft—nay, but the draft of a draft. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!”
~ Herman Melville
“I’m always astonished whenever I finish anything. Astonished and depressed. My desire for perfection should prevent me from ever finishing anything; it should prevent me even from starting... This book represents my cowardice.”
~ Fernando Pessoa
“I write only for my shadow projected by the lamp onto the wall. I need to introduce myself to it.”
~ Sadeq Hedayat
“Writing is my health.”
~ Sylvia Plath
“Of course there is no more beautiful fate for a story than for it to disappear...”
~ Franz Kafka
