The important thing in writing is the capacity to astonish. Not shock - shock is a worn-out word - but read more

The important thing in writing is the capacity to astonish. Not shock - shock is a worn-out word - but astonish.

Writing only leads to more writing.

Writing only leads to more writing.

The act of writing requires a constant plunging back into the shadow of the past where time hovers ghostlike.

The act of writing requires a constant plunging back into the shadow of the past where time hovers ghostlike.

Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for read more

Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money.

I write down everything I want to remember. That way, instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember read more

I write down everything I want to remember. That way, instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember what it is I wrote down, I spend the time looking for the paper I wrote it down on.

If I don't write to empty my mind, I go mad.

If I don't write to empty my mind, I go mad.

Writing is making sense of life. You work your whole life and perhaps you've made sense of one small area.

Writing is making sense of life. You work your whole life and perhaps you've made sense of one small area.

The problem with writing about religion is that you run the risk of offending sincerely religious people, and then they read more

The problem with writing about religion is that you run the risk of offending sincerely religious people, and then they come after you with machetes.

You write in your letter something which I sometimes feel also: Sometimes I do not know how I shall pull read more

You write in your letter something which I sometimes feel also: Sometimes I do not know how I shall pull through.