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.

A writer is, after all, only half his book. The other half is the reader and from the reader the read more

A writer is, after all, only half his book. The other half is the reader and from the reader the writer learns.

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.

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

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

I write when I'm inspired, and I see to it that I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning

I write when I'm inspired, and I see to it that I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning

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

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.

For your born writer, nothing is so healing as the realization that he has come upon the right word.

For your born writer, nothing is so healing as the realization that he has come upon the right word.