
“That’s why prisoners are able to write, despite the oppression, the depravation, the discrimination. They’re able to write because they can imagine community.”
“I want to believe that reading tunes the mind, that empathy results from the connections forged between a reader and a character…”
There’ve been other negative eras in American history, but there’s always been that spirit of resilience and resistance.
“Creating some kind of art…is as close to leaving your brain behind in a jar as you’re going to get.”
“To be competitive and on, all of the time, involves discipline and schedule, a lot of super-focused manic intensity, and the need to ignore outside distractions, all of which is huge for writing.”