I've enjoyed being a famous writer-except that every once in a while you have to write something.
I think you have an obligation to share what you know as a writer.
Some creative writing programs seem evil, but my experience at Irvine was totally the opposite, where I feel like they were really good at focusing in on each writers voice and setting. When I felt like I was obligated to write a story that was more typical, no one really liked it.
A book comes and says, 'Write me.' My job is to try to serve it to the best of my ability, which is never good enough, but all I can do is listen to it, do what it tells me and collaborate.
If you grow up in Ireland and read books then you really are obliged to attempt your own some time. It is not exactly a choice. I still don't know if I am a writer. Believe me, there are days when I have my doubts.
For a novelist, it's kind of an onerous burden to represent an entire culture.
One writes what one can, or has to, write.
It got so bad that by the time I was graduated, the only reading I did was in order to get the grade and the only writing I did was in order to get the grade.
You know that I become quite powerless whenever I am obliged to write for an instrument which I cannot bear.
But I think everybody should write. I think those people with stories who don't write should be stomped on.
