There's lots of things that can't make it in the world that are worth making. There are lots of great artists who never make it, there are lots of great writers who don't get published - is it still worthwhile? Aren't we glad people are still doing it?

Your memories from your early childhood seem to have such purchase on your emotions. They are so concrete.

Getting an audience requires luck as well as talent. Some artists are private and shy. It costs them too much.

The writer has to be brave, I think.

My husband is a musician. He cooks and he's a chef but he also, he makes basement recordings. So many people in my life make basement recordings, so I feel very lucky, I'm surrounded by very creative people.

People think it's suspect and self-indulgent to make art, and I don't think that's true. Some people think you should be busy making something that you can sell in the marketplace, and if nobody wants to buy it, it must be crap. And that's not true.

My teaching exists in a different part of my brain. However, I am lucky enough to teach very smart graduate students.