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Quote by Sandra Cisneros

“Even though it's hard to believe, but people who know me really well know I'm shy. I have to go past that fear.”

Quote by Sandra Cisneros

Author

Sandra Cisneros

Sandra Cisneros is an American writer known for her unique Latinx background and female perspective. Her works delve into issues of immigration, family, and society, with her most famous work being the short story collection 'The House on Mango Street'. Born on December 20, 1954, Cisneros began her writing career in the 1970s. more

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“When I was at home, I wasn't shy. I was the clown at home, because I was loved. It was in the outside world that I was judged and I wasn't loved. That was very clear to me, that I wasn't loved. So I became very quiet. You know, those little girls you see in those pictures that look like they want to hunch, I was trying to disappear into my shoulder blades. The quietest person in the classroom, that was me. But that wasn't me at home.”

Knows World Want Trying Looks Littles Persons Home Girl Clear Quiet Disappear Shoulders Shy Judged Classroom Clown Blades Outside World Hunches

Author:Sandra Cisneros

“One of the things I used to dream of is that if I could just be funny like Red Skelton, if I could be a comedian like Red Skelton - that's what I watched on TV - then maybe I would have friends. I just remember that if I told stories to my friends, they listened. And in my family, with nine people talking at the same time, it's really hard to get people to listen to you. We were all craving attention.”

People Ifs Hard Stories Dream Remember Used Attention Talking Tvs My Friends Red My Family Nine Comedian If I Could Craving People Talking

Author:Sandra Cisneros

“What I've learned is, if I have to go out and speak, the best way to get people's attention is to tell them a story, tell them a story that came from my corazón.”

People Ifs Way Stories Speak Attention Best Way I've Learned

Author:Sandra Cisneros

“I tell people to write the stories that you're afraid to talk about, the stories you wish you'd forget, because those have the most power. Those are the ones that have the most strength when you give them as a testimony.”

People Giving Writing Stories Wish Forget Testimony Wish You

Author:Sandra Cisneros

“I also learned to tell a story. I think I learned from poetry how to time a story. Poetry's timing, beats and pauses. That white space on the page is as important as the black. The bottom of the page is blackout. It's performance.”

Thinking Important Stories Black Space White Pages Beats Performances Bottom Timing Pauses Blackouts White Space

Author:Sandra Cisneros

“I learn through listening and watching other performers that are very good, like Denise Chávez, Dorothy Allison.”

Listening Very Good Performers Allison

Author:Sandra Cisneros

“I had to learn quick, because I was performing in Cinco de Mayo festivals with babies crying and people lifting their beers, and you know the feather dancers would come, and they'd say, "What are you, a poet? You're next".”

People Knows Next Cry Poet Baby Beer Performing Dancer Feathers Festivals Lifting Cinco De Mayo

Author:Sandra Cisneros

“"You're next, after the feather dancers." And you had to get their attention, because otherwise people would go, "Oh, a poet." You really have to learn.”

People Next Attention Poet Dancer Feathers Wise People

Author:Sandra Cisneros

“People paused to listen to Denise Chávez and she had them - with gum on her shoes, she had them. She said she stepped on gum when she came up to the stage and she couldn't move, so she had to stay in one spot otherwise people would see the Chiclet.”

People Said Moving Stage Shoes Spots Gum Wise People

Author:Sandra Cisneros

“Those of us who are writers and have to perform to communities that aren't used to coming to book events, I would recommend taking some theater.”

Book Used Community Events Theater

Author:Sandra Cisneros