I never could figure out how those people like Bukowski could be both carousers and writers at the same time, because to me writing takes as much destructive energy as it takes to be a really good professional drunk. ...I've known various alcoholics and addicts, and it does take a certain kind of determination and willpower to give yourself over to a drug so completely. There's a lot of effort expended once you begin to completely trash your life. Sometimes, writing feels like this to me. It's like going on an all-night bender and then waking up and thinking, "You know, I think I'll do that again," and pouring yourself another drink.
-Dan Chaon
Dan Chaon interviewed. I stumbled across his book "You Remind Me of Me" a couple years ago and fell in love. Then I went backwards and read his short stories, which are also very good. A lot of his prose remind me of my own, and it's comforting to be reminded of your own work when reading the published.
No comments:
Post a Comment