Sefi Quotes & Sayings

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

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

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

I don't really get too frustrated. I know I'm going to get the ball. — Calvin Johnson

I don't have a schedule, but I can write for hours non-stop. If I'm drafting a book, I try and do a chapter a day. I dislike first drafts. Revision is a lot more fun, but it takes years. — Sefi Atta

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

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

Sefi, what do you think? She — Pierce Brown

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

That we should obey laws whether good or bad is a new-fangled notion. There was no such thing in former days. The people disregarded those laws they did not like and suffered the penalties for their breach. — Mahatma Gandhi

I never wanted to be a writer; I just had stories I needed to tell. — 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

People don't fear the wind until it fells a tree. Then, they say it's too much. — Sefi Atta

My accountancy experience could come in handy if ever I find myself in the right position. For now, I'm very happy to write. — Sefi Atta

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

We lock eyes and he addresses me. "Godchild Andromedus, I am Ragnar Volarus, the Stained firstborn of my mother, Alia Snowsparrow of the Valkyrie Spires north of the Dragon's Spine, south of the Fallen City, where the Winged Horror flies, brother of Sefi the Quiet, breaker of Tanos, which once stood by the water, and I make you an offering of stains." He splays out his gigantic bloodstained hands and then reaches through the door with his right hand. His ionBlades retract into his armor. The razor still juts out of his ribs. I'm pissing my bloodydamn suit. "Well, frag me blind," Sevro mutters. — Pierce Brown

Sefi slinks around us, examining the alien Gold and the strange gear she carries. I like the way people talk when Sefi circles. Seems a little more honest. — Pierce Brown

Being in my best shape, my conditioning, it's something I pride myself in. — Carl Hagelin

She says the lesson to learn is that the world is round, which means that if I run too fast I might end up chasing the very homeland I am running from. — Sefi Atta

I'm addicted to writing. — Sefi Atta

I always begin [a novel] with outlines, but they change and so do my endings and beginnings. — Sefi Atta

You make me feel safe, Fern. You make me forget. And when I kiss you I just want to keep kissing you. Everything else falls away. — Amy Harmon

At some point, practicality requires that you reach out to people in the business. You have to take care of business if you value your work. — Sefi Atta

've had notebooks, but they are nondescript. All I care about is that they fit in my hand. I scribble down ideas. The problem is my best ideas come while I'm driving or showering. — Sefi Atta

I leave to others the decision as to the good or evil tendencies of my character, but such as it is it shines upon my countenance, and there it can easily be detected by any physiognomist. — Giacomo Casanova

For all forms, writing dialogue is almost like writing music. I pay close attention to rhythms and tones. — Sefi Atta

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

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

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

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

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

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

I have to say that writing about my writing process is more daunting than writing non-fiction. — Sefi Atta

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