Complete video at: fora.tv Critically acclaimed bard Joyce Carol Oates discusses how a bard develops picturesque characters, regulating examples from her novel “The Gravedigger’s Daughter.” —– Joyce Carol Oates talks about “The Gravedigger’s Daughter.” A family unfortunate to shun Nazi Germany settles in upstate New York, where a father is demeaned by a usually pursuit he can get: gravedigger an tomb caretaker. What follows is a story of accursed tragedy, as a gravedigger’s daughter …
JOYCE CAROL OATES – ON WRITING CHARACTERS
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May 10th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I just might check out what you NAVE written! I bet ITS amazing!
Seriously, now. If you are a writer, write like one. What’s up with the terrible grammar (including misspellings and random capitalization)? Try using a comma.
May 12th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Its time the writers wake up and smell the coffee
Check out what I nave written.
Its so true and its global.
Its Christmas and its happening and We in Canada are not so controlled by the Jews and most of us hate George Bush and Dick Cheney and Hillary Clinton anyhow.
May 12th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
As someone who’s never read anything by a female author (yes, it’s true… Not even Karin Boye), what would you recommend? Oates?
May 14th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
@ToniMaples: Here I come looking to see if maybe Oates has something interesting to say and someone mentions Dan Brown…? Go away please.
May 17th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I’ve wanted to be an author since I was 10. I’d been working on a story for kids. Now, I’m finally going to get my book published! I can hardly wait. It’s going to be available on Waterstone’s and Tesco’s websites (in the UK), hopefully around spring 2010. I’ve always wanted to show that I’m good at doing something, even though I’m autistic. Hopefully it’ll inspire other people like me to follow their dreams. =o)
May 19th, 2009 at 12:13 am
@Rimfairy
What’s up Jordan!! Did you ever eat that nickel? Look Behind you, out the window…
May 19th, 2009 at 3:14 am
I just write whatever comes.
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:48 am
attn: all writers world-wide
I want to know when is Dan Brown going to work
with Jeff Fisher and Jane Bowell since the Davinci Code is true.
The site is called JesusChristLovesForeverAmen blogspot
Toni Maples
Alberta Canada
tonimaples hotmail
I got an email from a man named Richard Saskle.
May 23rd, 2009 at 11:09 pm
characters make the story, without them, readers don’t become attached to the book, causing them to lose interest, and causing them to never by another one of your books.
Michael Crichton is an exception, and an anomaly.
May 24th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
very well done!
May 25th, 2009 at 2:28 am
I am currently reading “Blonde” and I hate reading it because I have the tendency of getting lost into the world of the story.
Literally, Joyce Carol Oates has the ability to suck you into the story and place you into the life of the main character-I love her, she is extraordinary. Her writing is mesmerizing.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:56 am
This woman is a god. I worship her!
May 28th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
I never thought of it that way. Good point
May 31st, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Joyce Carol Oats is stalking about literature and artists, not literary potato chips.
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:48 am
Characters aren’t always the best starting point for a novel. My favorite author (Michael Crichton) admits to never having a fascination with characters, preventing them from ever upstaging the plot, the science, the fiction, and the commentary. Maybe that is why they often make terrible movies.
June 5th, 2009 at 5:41 am
yeah your a bit right…but I guess it just depends on when and where in the country you were raised…I was raised in a nice small-town suburb where I didn’t have to worry about gangs or inner city stuff…and I was a kid in the 90’s which was arguably one of the best economic decades and worry-free….
June 5th, 2009 at 7:26 am
The dream was as you say. The reality, however, was a bit different for many, if not most, Americans. True, there is less predefined stratification, even in the midst of American class-ist behavior, than exists in many parts of the world. And it’s better than China or Vietnam any day of any week. Mypoint is that as an American, I know many of those ideals to be more the product of an incredible PR department, focusing on a small faction of Americans, rather than a possibility for the masses.
June 7th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Lol living in the states may not be lucky right now, but there was a time when it was the best place to be in the world…where the american dream was based on hard work and accomplishing endless possibilities…you could be from the slums and thru hardwork and willpower become a doctor or lawyer…Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of petition, freedom to choose…It’s a heck of a lot better than living in China or Vientnam….
June 8th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Joyce Carol Oates really is a wonderful teacher, but don’t be too sure about living in the states being all that lucky…lol
June 9th, 2009 at 4:53 am
When you arent’ lucky enought to live the States, it is very fascinating to be able attend this lecture on writing.JOC is a great writer but also a wonderful teacher.
Thank you for posting this video!
June 11th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Poets who come from fiction backgrounds frequently start with characters; the character’s voice creates the structure.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Finding this video was a wonderful surprise! I’m going to look for more – I’ve read interviews with her and she always seems to have plenty of things to say that make sense, even if I don’t always agree.
June 16th, 2009 at 1:59 am
“Where are You Going, Where Have You Been”?
June 17th, 2009 at 10:52 am
I doubt the comment was really sexist at it’s root. Sounded more of the traditional cliche of attitude marking an individual’s characteristics that could have applied to a male just as easily. EA Poe with his poor health and drugs while also being popular with the ladies would have fit the image well, while Stephen King being a sociably and well balanced family man may be a surprise for some fans. TV taught us to identify with ‘entertainer’s more then talent based on it’s own merits.