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 m…

- Sefi Atta

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

- Sefi Atta

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

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 i…

- 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…

- Sefi Atta

I never wanted to be a writer; I just had stories I wanted to share so I learnt how to write and kept going. If I could sing or paint, I would.

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

- Sefi Atta