Comments on: JOYCE CAROL OATES – ON WRITING CHARACTERS

By: Adrealist

Adrealist — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:52:51 +0000

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.

By: yak6ex

yak6ex — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:59:55 +0000

“Where are You Going, Where Have You Been”?

By: AeriaGl0ris

AeriaGl0ris — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:55:48 +0000

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.

By: JustMary411

JustMary411 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:31:58 +0000

Poets who come from fiction backgrounds frequently start with characters; the character’s voice creates the structure.

By: guinnebert

guinnebert — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:53:30 +0000

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!

By: Bodicea77

Bodicea77 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:32:22 +0000

Joyce Carol Oates really is a wonderful teacher, but don’t be too sure about living in the states being all that lucky…lol

By: fruitikay

fruitikay — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:02:04 +0000

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….

By: Bodicea77

Bodicea77 — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:26:33 +0000

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.

By: fruitikay

fruitikay — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:41:05 +0000

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….

By: FreedInsanity

FreedInsanity — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:48:46 +0000

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.