Home / Quotes / Quote by Joy Kogawa

Quote by Joy Kogawa

“Fiction, on the other hand, is like swamp fire.”

Quote by Joy Kogawa

Author

Joy Kogawa is a Canadian poet born on June 6, 1935. Her work is deeply influenced by her personal experiences, particularly her internment in Japanese Canadian internment camps during World War II. more

You May Also Like

“The advice I would offer to any writer is that even when you think you have revised your book to the point where you cannot look at it again, it is time to sit down and revise it some more.”

Thinking Looks Book Advice Offers Down And

Author:Michael Korda

“The novel is the highest example of subtle interrelatedness that man has discovered.”

Men Novel Example Highest Subtle Interrelatedness

Book:Delphi Complete Works of D.H. Lawrence (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of D.H. Lawrence (Illustrated)

“To write well it is first necessary to have something to say.”

Writing Firsts Wells

Author:Stephen Leacock

“I believe every space and comma is a living part of the poem and has its function, just as every muscle and pore of the body has its function. And the way the lines are broken is a functioning part essential to the life of the poem.”

Way Believe Body I Believe Lines Space Broken Essentials Function Muscles

Book:The poet in the world

Source: The poet in the world

“I try to be as ruthless as possible. I ask myself of each sentence, "Is it clear? Is it true? Does it feel good?" And if it's not, then I rewrite it.”

Ifs Feels Trying Doe Asks Clear Sentences Feel Good Ruthless

Author:William Manchester

“When I have no idea, I gnaw my nails and invoke the aid of Providence.”

Ideas Aids No Idea Providence Nails Invoke

Author:Brander Matthews

“A piece of writing takes exactly as long as it needs to be done right.”

Needs Writing Long Done Pieces

Author:Norma Fox Mazer

“Every word is a preconceived judgment.”

Book:Human, All Too Human

Source: Human, All Too Human

“We also write to heighten our own awareness of life... We write to taste life twice, in the moment, and in retrospection... We write to be able to transcend our life, to reach beyond it...to teach ourselves to speak with others, to record the journey into the labyrinth. We write to expand our world when we feel strangled, or constricted, or lonely... When I don't write, I feel my world shrinking... I feel I lose my fire and my color.”

World Feels Writing Moments Able Speak Loses Teach Records Fire Our Lives Journey Awareness Color Taste Lonely Our World Labyrinth Shrinking Awareness Of Life

Author:Anais Nin

“The appeal of writing is primarily the investigation of mystery.”

Writing Mystery Appeals Investigation

Author:Joyce Carol Oates