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I used to think that if I had a choice between writing well and living well, I would choose the former. But now I think that's sheer lunacy. Writing weighs so much less, in the great cosmic equation, than living.

Life sometimes gets in the way of writing.

At least in my case, a very simple, regular, happy life makes for better writing.

Writing is a question of finding a certain rhythm. I compare it to the rhythms of jazz. Much of the time life is a sort of rhythmic progression of three characters. If one tells oneself that life is like that, one feels it less arbitrary.

The point always is to be writing something - it leads to more writing.

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

The need to write comes from the need to make sense of one's life and discover one's usefulness.

Writing is so entwined with my being that I can't imagine a life without it.

Good writing excites me, and makes life worth living.