“I don't write books because I have answers. I write books because I have questions. What we are is the questions that we ask, not the answers that we provide. It's all about the process of self-examination. I think that's what the best writing always contains.” ThinkingWritingBookSelfAsksProcessAnswersExaminationSelf-examination Author:John Edgar Wideman
“Remember that a book is many drafts - mine certainly are. It's improvisation. It's as much jazz and the way we talk and the way I heard people preach coming up as it is writing.” PeopleWayWritingBookRememberHeardMinesJazzImprovisation Author:John Edgar Wideman
“As a reader, I do not like to have everything handed to me. Because after a while it gets formulaic and I'm thinking, "If this is so thought through, then why do I need to read it. It's done!" It becomes a beach book at a certain point.” IfsThinkingNeedsBookDoneCertainReaderBeach Author:John Edgar Wideman
“Hell, I'm going to play pro basketball. I'm going to maybe be famous. I'm going to write books.” WritingBookPlayHellBasketball Author:John Edgar Wideman
“When I'm writing, I'm thinking, "Well, this might be a book that I'll always be happy with, and certainly readers will be happy with." But another part of me knows that when I'm past the stage of writing, the book is gonna have good things about it, bad things about it - probably more bad than good. I just know that. That's who I am.” ThinkingKnowsWritingWellsBookMightPastStageReaderGood ThingsWho I AmBad ThingsAlways Be Happy Author:John Edgar Wideman
“Books are an attempt to control something that's uncontrollable.” BookUncontrollable Author:John Edgar Wideman
“I really dislike when people talk about "experimental," because any good writer is experimental. As a writer, you don't know what the hell you're doing. You're just doing it. You hope it works out well. I've been experimenting with these things myself in my own books.” PeopleBookHellWork OutDislike Author:John Edgar Wideman
“Books are an attempt to control something that's uncontrollable. That's one of the beauties of African American life. There was this thing called slavery and adjustments were made. It literally destroyed millions, but it didn't destroy the inner lives of all the people who experienced it. There are still horrible things that go on because of the myth of race, but we don't have to succumb totally. If I had only a negative side of things to present, I think I would have much less of a drive to do it. Because what would be the point?” PeopleThinkingBookNegativeSlaveryMythHorribleAfrican American Author:John Edgar Wideman
