The decision for me was whether to have The Father be a book that told a story - from the point of view of this speaker, the daughter - without, as in the earlier books, then having a section on…

Quote by Sharon Olds

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I was very afraid that I wouldn't be able to do this job well. And...

I was very afraid that I wouldn't be able to do this job well. And...

The older I get, the more I feel almost beautiful.

The older I get, the more I feel almost beautiful.

When I quit all these things and said I didn't have any time, I meant...

When I quit all these things and said I didn't have any time, I meant...

Maybe we can use a metaphor for it, out of dance. I think for many...

Maybe we can use a metaphor for it, out of dance. I think for many...

I didn't have time to sit down and look at the work of a year...

I didn't have time to sit down and look at the work of a year...

My poems - I don't even like the sound of that, in a way. Not...

My poems - I don't even like the sound of that, in a way. Not...

I wish I wrote more about the world at more distance from myself.

I wish I wrote more about the world at more distance from myself.

Many poets write books. They'll tell you: Well, I've got my next book, but there...

Many poets write books. They'll tell you: Well, I've got my next book, but there...

I think this is true for all artists. My senses are very important to me.

I think this is true for all artists. My senses are very important to me.

So I did quit coffee and I did quit smoking. But I haven't managed that...

So I did quit coffee and I did quit smoking. But I haven't managed that...

The amount of horror one used to hear about in one village could be quite...

The amount of horror one used to hear about in one village could be quite...

There are some fine books and essays about that. Lewis Hyde has written about alcoholism...

There are some fine books and essays about that. Lewis Hyde has written about alcoholism...

I'm probably so out of it at my age that I don't know what people...

I'm probably so out of it at my age that I don't know what people...

I think that there are fiction writers for whom that works well. I could never...

I think that there are fiction writers for whom that works well. I could never...

Well, The Wellspring was written from 1983 to 1986. And it had a section in...

Well, The Wellspring was written from 1983 to 1986. And it had a section in...

At one point I took on a new job, and I just didn't have time...

At one point I took on a new job, and I just didn't have time...

Their spirits and their visions are embodied in their craft. And so is mine. It's...

Their spirits and their visions are embodied in their craft. And so is mine. It's...

It might be a bad thing, not to know what's going on in the world....

It might be a bad thing, not to know what's going on in the world....

If I wrote in a sonnet form, I would be distorting. Or if I had...

If I wrote in a sonnet form, I would be distorting. Or if I had...

Well, one thing I'm really interested in, when I'm writing, is being accurate.

Well, one thing I'm really interested in, when I'm writing, is being accurate.