Writers write to influence their readers, their preachers, their auditors, but always, at bottom, to be more themselves.

Writers write to influence their readers, their preachers, their auditors, but always, at bottom, to be more themselves.

Originality is nothing by judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.

Originality is nothing by judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.

Creative writers are always greater than the causes that they represent.

Creative writers are always greater than the causes that they represent.

A catless writer is almost inconceivable. It's a perverse taste, really, since it would be easier to write with a read more

A catless writer is almost inconceivable. It's a perverse taste, really, since it would be easier to write with a herd of buffalo in the room than even one cat; they make nests in the notes and bite the end of the pen and walk on the typewriter keys.

The true function of a writer is to produce a masterpiece and no other task is of any consequence.

The true function of a writer is to produce a masterpiece and no other task is of any consequence.

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange and mystify the familiar, is read more

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange and mystify the familiar, is the test of their power.

Of all that is written, I love only what a person has written with his own blood

Of all that is written, I love only what a person has written with his own blood

Some editors are failed writers, but so are most writers.

Some editors are failed writers, but so are most writers.

He lives the poetry that he cannot write. The others write the poetry that they dare not realise.

He lives the poetry that he cannot write. The others write the poetry that they dare not realise.