As a literary device, sugar and pastry carried so many nuances - the sweetness of the past, the danger of overeating and addiction, the political and environmental devastation of plantations - it was just what a book needed.
Diana Abu-JaberConsider the difference between the first and third person in poetry [...] It's like the difference between looking at a person and looking through their eyes.
Diana Abu-JaberI'm constantly at war with myself to quit goofing around, and the internet hasn't helped that any. I've learned that I have to be sort of exploitive about seizing moments to write. Luckily, I still write most of my first drafts by hand, so I often work in bed when I can't sleep.
Diana Abu-JaberIf you only write for 15 minutes at a time, you can write a book and still have time for Legos.
Diana Abu-JaberEvery day I try to do some small thing connected to writing. Or I'll station myself at a café and try to hold myself captive with chocolate. I find that writers tend to be dismissive of small amounts of work or time, but they can actually add up. I've written several books in 15 minute increments.
Diana Abu-Jaber