The deepest secret in our heart of hearts is that we are writing because we love the world.
A responsibility of literature is to make people awake, present, alive. If the writer wanders, then the reader, too, will wander.
Be awake to the details around you, but don’t be self-conscious.
Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth...
When you write, don’t say, “I’m going to write a poem.” That attitude will freeze you right away. Sit down with the least expectation of yourself; say, “I am free to write the worst junk in the world.”
So writing is not just writing. It is also having a relationship with other writers. And don’t be jealous, especially secretly. That’s the worst kind. If someone writes something great, it’s just more clarity in the world for all of us.
In writing with detail, you are turning to face the world. It is a deeply political act, because you are not staying in the heat of your own emotions. You are offering up some good solid bread for the hungry.
When you are present, the world is truly alive.
Creativity is no big deal.
When you are not writing, you are a writer too. It doesn’t leave you.
Talk when you talk, walk when you walk, and die when you die.
When you bring the darkness to the table, it doesn’t rule you or hurt other people, but when we keep it secret, it’s dangerous.
Our job as writers is to listen, to come home to the four corners of the earth.
Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go. And don’t worry too much about security. You will eventually have a deep security when you begin to do what you want.
Failure is what we’re all running from, we’re always running toward success with failure at our back.
Shut up and write anyway. Don’t use anything as an excuse.
There’s no such thing as a writer’s block. If you’re having trouble writing, well, pick up the pen and write. No matter what, keep that hand moving. Writing is really a physical activity.
Choose your tools carefully, but not so carefully that you get uptight or spend more time at the stationery store than at your writing table.
When you write what you know, you stay in control. One of the first things I encourage my writing students to do is to lose control – say what they want to say, break structure.
I consider writing practice a true Zen practice because it all comes back at you. You can’t fool anyone because it’s on the page.