There's no narcotic like exhaustion. Octavia Butler More Quotes by Octavia Butler More Quotes From Octavia Butler I wanted to write a novel that would make others feel the history: the pain and fear that black people have had to live through in order to endure. Octavia Butler pain writing order ...I can write my own stories and I can write myself in. Octavia Butler my-own stories writing It's interesting how many science fiction writers get going when they are very young. I was on a program with Greg Bear and he mentioned that he had gotten started writing when he was eight. And I began writing when I was 10. I think we're influenced by the stuff, we find it and we love it and we're influenced by it....I know I collected my first rejection slip when I was 13, and I went on collecting them for a long time after that. Octavia Butler eight writing thinking I'm literate, and the idea of leaving children illiterate is criminal. Octavia Butler leaving children ideas Religion is a dangerous prod, because it can always be misused and get out of hand, but it's useful for keeping people on the straight and narrow. Octavia Butler women hands people It's when people begin using their religion as just a way of getting power over other people that scares me. I'm afraid that's what's going on in a lot of cases right now. When people deliberately tell lies, Creationism for instance, and pretend, "Oh, it's not really religion." I mean they know they're lying, and yet they're the religious people. There's something wrong there. Octavia Butler religious mean lying Every story I create, creates me. I write to create myself. Octavia Butler stories writing Most of us don't have to worry about being shot of we poke our noses outside. So we are comfortable, but the people I'm writing about are definitely not comfortable, and being shot while they're still inside is a good possibility. Octavia Butler worry writing people Better to stay alive," I said. "At least while there's a chance to get free." I thought of the sleeping pills in my bag and wondered just how great a hypocrite I was. It was so easy to advise other people to live with their pain. Octavia Butler pain hypocrite sleep A victim of God may, Through learning adaption, Become a partner of God, A victim of God may, Through forethought and planning, Become a shaper of God. Or a victim of God may, Through shortsightedness and fear, Remain God's victim, God's plaything, God's prey. Octavia Butler planning victim may Helpless lust and unreasoning anxiety were just part of growing up. Octavia Butler anxiety growing-up lust And I have this little litany of things they can do. And the first one, of course, is to write - every day, no excuses. It's so easy to make excuses. Even professional writers have days when they'd rather clean the toilet than do the writing. Octavia Butler toilets writing littles You are horror and beauty in rare combination. Octavia Butler combination horror beauty A workshop is a way of renting an audience, and making sure you're communicating what you think you're communicating. It's so easy as a young writer to think you're been very clear when in fact you haven't. Octavia Butler facts way thinking Positive obsession is about not being able to stop just because you're afraid and full of doubts. Positive obsession is dangerous. It's about not being able to stop at all. Octavia Butler able obsession doubt Fantasy is totally wide open; all you really have to do is follow the rules you've set. But if you're writing about science, you have to first learn what you're writing about. Octavia Butler fantasy writing firsts I recognize we will pay more attention when we have different leadership. Octavia Butler different pay attention The essentials are to learn to shape God with forethought, care, and work; to educate and benefit their community, their families and themselves; and to contribute to the fulfillment of the Destiny. Octavia Butler destiny essentials community Slavery was a long slow process of dulling. Octavia Butler slavery process long I'm a pessimist if I'm not careful, a feminist, a Black,...an oil-and-water combination of ambition, laziness, insecurity, certainty, and drive. Octavia Butler oil-and-water feminist ambition