I don't think that if I had spent the time that I was in, say, Belgrade, writing about my time in Trieste, which is where I had just been, that would have been productive. I told myself: take extensive notes while you're there, do the research part of it, and then pray, pray, the muses will be available when the actual 'ready' happens.

I don't behave the way people necessarily want me to, but I tried behaving that other way for a short period of time and it didn't take.

I knew my motivations for going to each place and what I was looking for. If I don't do that then I generally don't write about my travels.

I have yet to get sued. My father thinks I should get liability insurance.

I think American literature is in a tedious place, horrible place. I can't even engage with it.

Talk to people who know more than you. I feel like we're in this stupid sea of opinion, like "My opinion is valid because it's mine and I have it."

I don't think that I can be settled and I don't think that I would ever want to be.