“I have been a writer since 1949. I am self-taught. I have no theories about writing that might help others. When I write, I simply become what I seemingly must become. I am six feet two and weigh nearly two hundred pounds and am badly coordinated, except when I swim. All that borrowed meat does the writing. In the water I am beautiful. ”

“I am not at all in a humor for writing; I must write on till I am.”

“Why am I compelled to write?... Because the world I create in the writing compensates for what the real world does not give me. By writing I put order in the world, give it a handle so I can grasp it. I write because life does not appease my appetites and anger... To become more intimate with myself and you. To discover myself, to preserve myself, to make myself, to achieve self-autonomy. To dispell the myths that I am a mad prophet or a poor suffering soul. To convince myself that I am worthy and that what I have to say is not a pile of shit... Finally I write because I'm scared of writing, but I'm more scared of not writing.”

“I write best when "I" am not writing.”

“I have spent my life 'dreaming' of becoming a writer. I co-wrote 2 books & I write articles for a magazine. Guess what?? I am a writer...dream accomplished! Everything after that is just business!!”

“When I write, I am gossiping. Writing to whisper the story, whether good or bad to my listener.”