Ocean Vuong

So shame became my propulsive force.

You know, I was like, I'm going to use this as wind to find out because this can't be, there has to be a root to all this.

For me, as a writer, it all begins with language.

You know, often when we talk to each other, we use fluff language to get by.

You know, how's the weather?

How about them patriots?

You know, what's going on?

How so and so?

And sometimes we don't answer that question.

We say yes, but it's just a muscle memory.

How are you doing?

Great, good.

And I think giving yourself permission to break the norm of hiding and using language to obfuscate and just say, I'm not okay.

Or changing the question, when was the last time you felt joy?

Now, you're in a different linguistic space.

And you realize that people actually really hunger for that.

But they don't want to burden you with that.

And we don't have the words to open the doors.

We only have the words to move outside the doors.

And so when the words change... So disruptions in linguistic patterns...