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Diana Abu-Jaber

Diana Abu-Jaber Quotes

Author

Diana Abu-Jaber is an American author known for her profound insights into Middle Eastern culture and her rich literary works. Her writing often focuses on family, identity, and community, exploring the lives of Middle Eastern immigrants in the United States.

Famous Diana Abu-Jaber Quotes

“I honestly never intended food to occupy so much of my creative work. Food-writing often seems about to plummet straight into sentimentality. I think food can be dangerous to write about because if you don't manage to mediate it somehow, it can be the worst sort of greeting card.”

Thinking Writing Creative Worst Dangerous Honestly Manage Sentimentality Creative Work Greetings Greeting Card

Author:Diana Abu-Jaber

“The question of identity has always been a murky issue in my own life and my writing bounces that right back. My father was adamant that my sisters and I were "Arab," and even though our house was in Syracuse, it was filled with the food, language, music, and overbearing relatives of Jordan. Unlike my gorgeous sisters, though, I inherited my mother's lighter complexion - it really is amazing what a difference a little bit of pigment can make on a person's experience!”

Writing Father House Language Identity My Sister Gorgeous

Author:Diana Abu-Jaber

“Cultural identity is of course connected to this issue. When I was younger, it was inspiring to write about the people that raised me, especially their near-insane struggle to live between America and Middle East. But like many writers, I want to paint on as broad a canvas as possible.”

People Writing Struggle Identity Paint Canvas

Author:Diana Abu-Jaber

“The daily writing practice is something I used to hear batted around a lot in writing workshops - which is probably why I dropped out of all the writing workshops. I wish I could take credit for innovating a new approach to writing, but the truth is that I've managed to write books despite myself. I'm lazy and ungovernable and undisciplined, but I do have a lot of anxiety about never amounting to anything and ending up as a bag lady.”

Writing Book Wish Truth Is Anxiety Lazy

Author:Diana Abu-Jaber

“I'm constantly at war with myself to quit goofing around, and the internet hasn't helped that any. I've learned that I have to be sort of exploitive about seizing moments to write. Luckily, I still write most of my first drafts by hand, so I often work in bed when I can't sleep.”

Writing War Moments Sleep Internet Quitting

Author:Diana Abu-Jaber

“Every day I try to do some small thing connected to writing. Or I'll station myself at a café and try to hold myself captive with chocolate. I find that writers tend to be dismissive of small amounts of work or time, but they can actually add up. I've written several books in 15 minute increments.”

Writing Trying Book Chocolate Small Things

Author:Diana Abu-Jaber

“If you only write for 15 minutes at a time, you can write a book and still have time for Legos.”

Author:Diana Abu-Jaber

About the Author

Born: 1960
Known for: Author
Quotes: 66

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

CrescentRelated source material

Birds of ParadiseRelated source material

Crescent: A NovelRelated source material

The Language of Baklava: A MemoirRelated source material

The Language of BaklavaRelated source material

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