an experiment

• “I don’t see writing as communication of something already discovered, as ‘truths’ already known. Rather, I see writing as a job of experiment. It’s like any discovery job; you don’t know what’s going to happen until you try it.” –William Stafford

a struggle

• “Writing is a struggle against silence.” –Carlos Fuentes

an illusion

• “Writing gives you the illusion of control, and then you realize it’s just an illusion, that people are going to bring their own stuff into it.” –David Sedaris

like science

• “Writing is probably like a scientist thinking about some scientific problem or an engineer about an engineering problem.” –Doris Lessing

just work

• “Writing is just work—there’s no secret. If you dictate or use a pen or type or write with your toes—it’s still just work.” –Sinclair Lewis

a privilege

• “Writing is [like] making a table. With both you are working with reality, a material just as hard as wood. Both are full of tricks and techniques. Basically very little magic and a lot of hard work are involved… What is a privilege, however, is to do a job to your satisfaction.” –Gabriel Garcia Marquez

a way to talk

• “Writing is the only way to talk without being interrupted.” –Jules Renard