Ocean Vuong: NYU Professor Teaches the Art of Writing | How I Write

The conversation explores how writers can cultivate novelty and freshness in their work, challenging conventional writing rules and embracing idiosyncrasy. Ocean Vuong, a poet, novelist, and professor, argues that literature, particularly the novel, has been steered toward a standardized, efficient style akin to newspaper writing, stifling imagination. He advocates for "estrangement," urging writers to re-see the world and language, breaking free from clichés. Vuong illustrates this with examples from Babel, Tolstoy, and observations on nature writing, emphasizing the importance of perception, daringness, and disobedience in artistic creation. The discussion also touches on the tension between synchronic and diachronic readings of literature, highlighting how publishing's focus on contemporary trends can lead to homogenization and reader fatigue.