I always begin [a novel] with outlines, but they change and so do my endings and beginnings. Sefi Atta More Quotes by Sefi Atta More Quotes From Sefi Atta 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. Sefi Atta imagination play writing 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. Sefi Atta overwhelming-desire passion writing People don’t fear the wind until it fells a tree. Then, they say it’s too much. Sefi Atta tree wind people 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. Sefi Atta stay-focused discontent writing I never wanted to be a writer; I just had stories I needed to tell. Sefi Atta needed stories wanted 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. Sefi Atta paint stories writing 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." Sefi Atta aunt reading remember I'm addicted to writing. Sefi Atta writing 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. Sefi Atta appreciate play writing I have to say that writing about my writing process is more daunting than writing non-fiction. Sefi Atta process writing fiction 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. Sefi Atta editors names book 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. Sefi Atta conflict language character 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. Sefi Atta england students literature 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. Sefi Atta betrayal kings children 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. Sefi Atta voice stories writing 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. Sefi Atta elements kings play 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. Sefi Atta pain play writing 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. Sefi Atta bored writing memories 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. Sefi Atta hard-work writing jobs 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. Sefi Atta comedy space stories
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