“I never planned on writing a novel. I had this mentality that, ‘Oh Ocean, you worked so hard to sit at the poetry table. The novel table better wait for the next lifetime.’ But I wrote these little essays, and my friends encouraged me. My work is always sparked by other people. I never think I can do anything until someone I believe in says, ‘Try it.’ I just kept going.”
— Ocean Vuong, in this Creative Independent interview
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