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Quote by Shirley Geok-lin Lim

“Just because suddenly you have a sabbatical doesn't mean that the writing occasion comes to you.”

Quote by Shirley Geok-lin Lim

Author

Shirley Geok-lin Lim

Shirley Geok-lin Lim is a Singaporean-born writer known for her profound insights into multiculturalism and her rich literary works. Her writings often focus on themes of race, gender, and identity, which have resonated with readers worldwide. more

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“The poem might come to you as you're preparing to teach a lecture, right? And when you say, "no" to that occasion, that poem is gone.”

Might Teach Gone Occasions Preparing Lectures

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“Quite a while ago, I made a conscious choice to place my teaching first, so it was very ego-invested. That decision wasn't a good thing in some ways.”

Way Firsts Made Choices Decision Teaching Ego Conscious Good Things

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“One should be able to teach adequately and feel good about it.”

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“I really felt neurotic - it was a neurotic reason - but I had to teach very, very well. That sucked up a lot of oxygen from my time and my creative thinking.”

Thinking Wells Reason Felt Teach Creative My Time Oxygen Neurotic Creative Thinking

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“I had to do the academic writing. At a top research university, publishing of a certain kind is very important. So your friend is right. You can't do three things well.”

Writing Wells Kind Important Certain Three Research University Academic Publishing Three Things Academic Writing

Author:Shirley Geok-lin Lim

“Even after the mothering dropped because my son grew up, the writing - the muse - was always the third wheel, the lowest on the priority list.”

Writing Son Grew Grew Up Thirds Lists Priorities Wheels My Son Muse Lowest Mothering

Author:Shirley Geok-lin Lim

“It's why muse is so impatient with me. I don't ever go to her until after the teaching or whatever is over.”

Teaching Muse Impatient

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“In that way, I don't understand myself. It might have to do with my own conflicts, where to place my body as a child, which I have carried over to now. In this way I'm constantly dislocated.”

Way Children Body Might My Own Conflict

Author:Shirley Geok-lin Lim

“I don't know where to place my body. Everyone notices that about me. I'm very restless.”

Knows Body Restless

Author:Shirley Geok-lin Lim

“I'm nomadic. Even when I'm a visiting professor here at the City University of Hong Kong, in this campus flat, I'm constantly getting up, sitting down, picking this or that up. You can't do that and be a writer. You need to be able to sit still.”

Needs Stills Able Cities Sitting University Flats Professors Visiting Campus Sitting Down Hong Kong Nomadic

Author:Shirley Geok-lin Lim