I am interested in intense, unbreakable emotional connections and oftentimes, such connections can be found between siblings.
Roxane GayI probably write the same story a hundred different ways. I suppose right now I am looking for the 101st different way to write that same story. And the 102nd, and 103rd and 111th and 133rd.
Roxane GayIt's a very weird cultural perception that if you're fat you're dumb, that you're lazy or a loser. Clearly, those are the preconditions for fatness. You're a failure, because only a lazy person, only a dumb person, would allow themselves to get into this situation. It's appalling that this is the mindset. People generally treat fat people like we don't know anything about anything. It's incredibly demeaning. And incredibly frustrating.
Roxane GayThat the question of likability even exists in literary conversations is odd. It implies that we are engaging in a courtship. When characters are unlikable, they donโt meet our mutable, varying standards. Certainly we can find kinship in fiction, but literary merit shouldnโt be dictated by whether we want to be friends or lovers with those about whom we read.
Roxane GayDonโt flirt, have sex, or engage in emotional affairs with your friendsโ significant others. This shouldnโt need to be said, but it needs to be said. That significant other is an asshole, and you donโt want to be involved with an asshole whoโs used goods. If you want to be with an asshole, get a fresh asshole of your very own. They are abundant.
Roxane Gay