In English, my name means hope. In Spanish, it means too many letters. It means sadness. It means waiting. It is like the number nine, a muddy color.
Sandra CisnerosRead
And the nice thing about writing a novel is you take your time, you sit with the character sometimes nine years, you look very deeply at a situation, unlike in real life when we just kind of snap something out.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writing a novel allows for deep exploration of characters and situations over time, unlike the fleeting nature of real life.
Sandra Cisneros highlights the beauty of novel writing as a process that permits a slower, more contemplative approach to understanding characters and their experiences. While real life often rushes decisions and actions, the act of writing allows for an in-depth exploration of thoughts and emotions, enabling a profound connection to the narrative and its subjects over an extended period.
Themes
WritingNovelCharactersExplorationTime
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a writing workshop to inspire emerging authors to take their time with character development.
More from Sandra Cisneros
All quotes →But I deal with this by meditating and by understanding I've been put on the planet to serve humanity. I have to remind myself to live simply and not overindulge, which is a constant battle in a material world.
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I try to be as honest about what I see and to speak rather than be silent, especially if it means I can save lives, or serve humanity.
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I'm a witch woman--high on tobacco and holy water. I'm a woman delighted with her disasters. They give me something to do. A profession of sorts...I have the magic of words. The power to charm and kill at will.
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I have to say that the traditional role is kind of a myth. I think the traditional Mexican woman is a fierce woman.
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I have to understand what my strengths and limitations are, and work from a true place. I try to do this as best I can while still protecting my writer self, which more than ever needs privacy.
Sandra CisnerosRead
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