Your criticism sounds to me as if you have read too many critical books and are too smart in an artificial, destructive, and very limited way.

I was a very ancient twelve; my views at that age would have done credit to a Civil War veteran. I am much younger now than I was at twelve or anyway, less burdened. The weight of the centuries lies on children, I'm sure of it.

The only way, I think, to learn to write short stories is to write them, and then try to discover what you have done.

I am a writer because writing is the thing I do best.

The Southerner is usually tolerant of those weaknesses that proceed from innocence.

A working knowledge of the devil can be very well had from resisting him.

I have found, in short, from reading my own writing, that my subject in fiction is the action of grace in territory largely held by the devil. I have also found that what I write is read by an audience which puts little stock either in grace or the devil. You discover your audience at the same time and in the same way that you discover your subject, but it is an added blow.