Teaching writing puts you on the point of a pin in terms of what you want your own writing to be.

I wouldn't underestimate the power of writing a letter.

I was born in Australia and grew up in the foreign services. I had this kind of trans-Pacific life. I think I was always sort of oriented towards here's Australia and here's America and here's the Pacific.

When you get immersed in whatever you're writing, the world does suddenly get so filtered through what you're writing. And then of course what you're writing then filters the world right back.

That's what perfect means. You're finished.

I've always wanted to figure out how to do a walking story. I'd never figured out how to do one and have it work or be interesting or have anything that it's about.

I know that I was able to find my way out of most of my feelings by writing.