When I was a kid, I'd go to the African-American section…
“When I was a kid, I'd go to the African-American section in the bookstore, and I'd try and find African-American people I hadn't read before. So in that sense the category was useful to me. But it's not useful to me as I write. I don't sit down to write an African-American zombie story or an African-American story about elevators. I'm writing a story about elevators which happens to talk about race in different ways. Or I'm writing a zombie novel which doesn't have that much to do with being black in America. That novel is really about survival.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author explains that while racial categories guided early reading, his current work transcends those labels, focusing on broader themes like survival and technology.
In simple terms: He writes stories that go beyond racial categories, focusing on universal themes.
Key Takeaway
Write stories that prioritize universal themes over identity labels.
Themes
writing
identity
genre
Mood
thoughtful
creative
Type
advice
reflective
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- genre blending
- creative process
Key Concepts
intersectionality
narrative scope
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance identity and universal themes?
- What benefits arise from genre blending?
A Different Perspective
Risk of overlooking specific cultural experiences.