“Anyone who survived childhood has enough material to write for the rest of his life.”

“Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days.”

“I don't know where to start," one [writing student] will wail. Start with your childhood, I tell them. Plug your nose and jump in, and write down all your memories as truthfully as you can. Flannery O' Connor said that anyone who has survived childhood has enough material to write for the rest of his or her life. Maybe your childhood was grim and horrible, but grim and horrible is Okay if it is well done. Don't worry about doing it well yet, though. Just get it down.”

“The fact is that anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days. If you can't make something out of a little experience, you probably won't be able to make it out of a lot.”

“Anyone who is going to be a writer knows enough at fifteen to write several novels.”

“No. I can survive well enough on my own— if given the proper reading material.”