Able Quote by Ishmael Reed

I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have from reading novels.…

— Ernest Gaines

My songs were influenced not so much by poetry on the page but by poetry being recited by the poets who recited poems with…

— Bob Dylan

I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have by reading novels.

— Ernest Gaines

Jazz is very important. It's not something I can put my finger on. When I'm writing at my favorite time, I like to have…

— Miller Williams

Compose aloud: poetry is a sound. Never explain- your reader is as smart as you. Your reader is not just any reader, but is…

— Basil Bunting

When I began to write novels, I wanted to keep that element of interaction with the reader that exists in poetry, not just for…

— Michael Ondaatje

When I do book readings, I always incorporate music or singing.

— Vivek Shraya

When I became more involved in music, I had to give up some of my writing in the literary sense. However, on occasion, I…

— Tom Glazer

You can't read to yourself. It's your inner ear that hears a poem. If you hear a poet read his own work, it becomes…

— Derek Walcott

I always write my novels with music (I don't listened to the music seriously.) Music seems to encourage me.

— Haruki Murakami

Hopefully, reading and being around great literature inspires me to write songs, but I'm not sure about that.

— Mat Kearney

I never really liked poetry readings; I liked to read poetry by myself, but I liked singing, chanting my lyrics to this jazz group.

— Leonard Cohen