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Sefi Atta

Sefi Atta Books

Author

Sefi Atta is a Nigerian-British author known for her unique literary style and profound insights into African culture. Her works often explore themes of gender, race, and identity, and have been well-received by readers worldwide.

Everything Good Will Come

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“I don't have much of an imagination, but I have a mind bank of details, which I play with. It's how I daydream, so writing like that is natural for me.”

Writing Mind Play Imagination Natural Details Daydreaming

Author:Sefi Atta

“I don't write non-fiction because I get bored. Some of my writing is autobiographical, but not the way readers imagine. I use my memory of settings, events and people. I weave history into my stories, but my narratives are made up.”

People Way Writing Made Stories Use Memories Fiction Imagine Events Reader Setting Settings Narrative Bored Non Fiction

Author:Sefi Atta

“I'm disciplined about writing. I get up every day knowing I have to produce work. I'm less concerned about other aspects of the job, such as the prizes and promotions. Promoting my work can be awkward, unless I feel sociable enough. Prizes encourage me to work harder on my next project.”

Feels Writing Enough Jobs Next Knowing Produce Hard Work Projects Concerned Aspect Harder Get Up Prize Awkward Promoting Promotion Work Harder Sociable

Author:Sefi Atta

“I get stage fright with short stories. For me it feels like standup comedy: kill or die. I'm more confident when I begin a novel because I know I have space to fail.”

Knows Feels Stories Dies Space Novel Comedy Failing Stage Short Story Fright Stage Fright

Author:Sefi Atta

“I always begin [a novel] with outlines, but they change and so do my endings and beginnings.”

Author:Sefi Atta

“'ve had notebooks, but they are nondescript. All I care about is that they fit in my hand. I scribble down ideas. The problem is my best ideas come while I'm driving or showering.”

Ideas Problem Hands Care Fit Driving I Care Notebook Scribbles

Author:Sefi Atta

“I don't have a schedule, but I can write for hours non-stop. If I'm drafting a book, I try and do a chapter a day. I dislike first drafts. Revision is a lot more fun, but it takes years.”

Ifs Writing Trying Years Firsts I Can Book Fun Hours Dislike Chapters Schedules Revision Non Stop Drafting

Author:Sefi Atta

“For all forms, writing dialogue is almost like writing music. I pay close attention to rhythms and tones.”

Writing Form Pay Attention Dialogue Rhythm Tone Writing Music Writing Dialogue

Author:Sefi Atta

“I never wanted to be a writer; I just had stories I needed to tell.”

Stories Wanted Needed

Author:Sefi Atta

“What works for me is that I read widely and stay focused on my writing. I'm no longer concerned about what happens in the literary marketplace. It is distracting and can lead to discontent.”

Writing Happens Concerned Focused Marketplace Discontent Stay Focused

Author:Sefi Atta

“You don't need attention to write. All you need is passion for your work and an overwhelming desire to tell a story you genuinely care about. Readers can sense your sincerity and it separates you from pretenders.”

Needs Writing Stories Care Desire Passion Attention Reader Overwhelming Sincerity Pretender Overwhelming Desire

Author:Sefi Atta

“At some point, practicality requires that you reach out to people in the business. You have to take care of business if you value your work.”

People Ifs Care Values Take Care Reach Out Practicality

Author:Sefi Atta

“I enjoy writing plays most. I haven't written a radio play in a while and I don't write short stories anymore because the process of submitting them depressed me. I really enjoy revising novels, but drafting them can be a pain.”

Writing Play Stories Pain Process Enjoy Novel Written Havens Radio Short Story Revising Drafting Radio Plays

Author:Sefi Atta

“I don't remember being a keen reader, but apparently I was. My aunt told me that whenever I was teased for reading, I would say, "To each his own."”

Remember Reading Reader Aunt

Author:Sefi Atta

“I read Macbeth as a secondary student in Nigeria and it was like an African play to me. It had all the right elements - witches, kings and assassinations.”

Play Students Kings Elements Witch Nigeria Assassination

Author:Sefi Atta

“I was my class playwright and I wrote plays set in villages with kings and chiefs.My plays were about treason and betrayals. If they were influenced by Macbeth, they were also influenced by Nigerian plays I had seen and Village Headmaster, a television drama series I had watched as a child.”

Ifs Children Play Class Television Kings Drama Series Betrayal Chiefs Village Playwright Treason Headmasters Television Drama

Author:Sefi Atta

“As a student in England, I studied French and English literature. I read L'Etranger and the rhythm of the novel felt familiar to me - very African.”

Literature Felt Novel Students England Familiar Rhythm English Literature

Author:Sefi Atta

“I had stopped writing plays set in villages because they were not relevant to my experiences and I knew my English classmates wouldn't appreciate them.”

Writing Play Appreciate Village Relevant Classmates

Author:Sefi Atta

“I can't say L'Etranger influenced me to write, but for the first time I considered the possibility of telling a story that resembled my own experiences in my own voice.”

Writing Firsts I Can Stories Voice My Own Possibility First Time

Author:Sefi Atta

“I'm addicted to writing.”

Author:Sefi Atta

“I never wanted to be a writer; I just had stories I wanted to share so I learnt how to write and kept going. If I could sing or paint, I would.”

Ifs Writing Stories Wanted Share Paint If I Could

Author:Sefi Atta

“I have to say that writing about my writing process is more daunting than writing non-fiction.”

Writing Process Fiction Writing Process Non Fiction

Author:Sefi Atta

“I couldn't decide on a title for my first novel and my editor came up with Everything Good Will Come. After that, I thought I should name my own books.A Bit of Difference seems just right.”

Should Firsts Book Seems Names Bits Differences My Own Novel Titles Editors Good Will

Author:Sefi Atta

“I'm always working on something new and while I'm working, I'm absorbed with my characters, their conflicts,my language and settings. I'm in another place and it is a shock to come out and consider my previous works.”

Character Language Conflict Setting Settings Shock Something New Always Working Previous Work

Author:Sefi Atta

“My accountancy experience could come in handy if ever I find myself in the right position. For now, I'm very happy to write.”

Ifs Writing Position Very Happy Handy

Author:Sefi Atta

“People don’t fear the wind until it fells a tree. Then, they say it’s too much.”

People Too Much Tree Wind

Book:Everything Good Will Come

Source: Everything Good Will Come

About the Author

Born: 1964
Known for: Author
Quotes: 26

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Writing Stories Ifs Novel Play Care Firsts People Reader Attention

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

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