Being Born A Writer

“All writing is presumption, of course, since no one knows what it is like to be another human being.” - Cynthia Ozick

Ozick was born in New York City on this date in 1928 and grew up in the Bronx where she said she “always” wanted to be a writer.   After earning a degree at NYU, she studied writing and completed a master’s degree in English literature at Ohio State, where she focused on the novels of Henry James.   One of her most acclaimed essay collections – she has had 9 published – is the award-winning What Henry James Knew and Other Essays on Writers. 

      Also the author of 7 novels, 7 short story collections, several books of nonfiction and one play, she has earned major writing awards across her spectrum of works, including The National Book Circle Critics Award, the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award (for the “Art of the Essay),” and 3 first prizes in the O.Henry Competition for her short stories.

While she has been a frequent speaker and essayist on the writing craft, she expresses mixed feelings on being a writer.

“No one can teach writing, but classes may stimulate the urge to write,” she said.  “If you are born a writer, you will inevitably and helplessly write. A born writer has self-knowledge. Read, read, read. And if you are a fiction writer, don't confine yourself to reading fiction. Every writer is first a wide reader.”

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