“It’s important that I never come to a novel trying to avenge anyone. I always tell my students that every character has to have a legitimate point in every argument, in every conversation. If I can’t be even with a character, then I won’t write that character. There are a lot of experiences in my life that people say, “You should write about that!” But I can’t write it unless I can understand, or at least empathize with, all the characters. I don’t write from life before I can first forgive. I know some writers forgive as a result of the writing, but for me — if I am writing about you, I have forgiven you.”
— At Bookslut, Roxane Gay interviews Tayari Jones, author of Rumpus Book Club selection Silver Sparrow.
