Joyce Carol Oates visited the Carlsbad library on the evening of Friday, Feb. 27, to deliver a lecture discussing her writing and how she and other authors get inspiration for their work. Through Oates’s talk it was clear that inspiration is a resource that she values very deeply. The author stated that she believes that inspiration for creative work comes from a deep part of the subconsciousness that cannot be directly manufactured. “I’m always asked where I get my ideas, and since I don’t know, I say I made them up,” Oates said.

Oates, a prolific author, spoke about her books and where she gets ideas, referencing many authors and works that have inspired her. The talk was based off a lecture she had written, but was interspersed with asides and tangential comments. After the lecture Oates answered audience questions and signed books. Her most recent book, “The Sacrifice,” came out in January.

The auditorium was full of people, mostly women, when Oates gave her talk. Oates has been writing since the 1960s, and many of the attendees were longtime fans. Before the doors opened, people had waited in line to ensure they would have a seat— one group had been there since 3p.m. Oates started her talk at 7 p.m. with a discussion about how much she was enjoying the California weather, thereafter going into a discussion centered on one main question: is the uninspired life worth living?

Oates mentioned many of her favorite authors in the talk, such as Virginia Woolf, John Updike, and Norman Mailer. She spoke about how different authors receive inspiration in different ways, and how inspiration has been perceived by different figures such as Socrates and Plato, as well as more contemporary literary figures.

Oates’s talk was both engaging and informative, and provided insight into her creative process. She described “bearing witness for people who can’t speak for themselves,” as a goal of her writing, and though she has been writing, as well as teaching, for more than 50 years, it is clear that she has lost little of her energy.