Writers, especially poets, are particularly prone to madness. There exists a striking association between creativity and manic depression. Why are more creative people prone to madness? They have more than average amounts of energies and abilities to see things in a fresh and original way—then because they also have depression, I think they’re more in touch with human suffering.

On a good day I write, all day.

Perhaps everyone has a story that could break your heart.

I believe poetry has very little to do with memory.

There is a physics to the world, which non-fiction has a contract to stand in awe of, otherwise it becomes completely self-centered and ego-driven, which is the death of a memoir.

Who doesn't want to just disappear, at some point in the day, in a year, to just step off the map and float?

I get inspired by my friends, and if a friend is a writer, that is even deeper.