Writing is something that you don't know how to do. You sit down and it's something that happens, or it may not happen. So, how can you teach anybody how to write? It's beyond me, because you yourself don't even know if you're going to be able to. I'm always worried, well, you know, every time I go upstairs with my wine bottle. Sometimes I'll sit at that typewriter for fifteen minutes, you know. I don't go up there to write. The typewriter's up there. If it doesn't start moving, I say, well this could be the night that I hit the dust.

if it doesn't come bursting out of you in spite of everything, don't do it. unless it comes unasked out of your heart and your mind and your mouth and your gut, don't do it.

and love is a word used too much and much too soon.

"Baby," I said. "I'm a genius but nobody knows it but me."

I wanted the whole world or nothing.

Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?

Lighting new cigarettes, pouring more drinks. It has been a beautiful fight. Still is.