A writer, I think, is someone who pays attention to the world."

[Speech upon being awarded the Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels (Peace Prize of the German Book Trade), Frankfurt Book Fair, October 12, 2003]

Do stuff. be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration's shove or society's kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It's all about paying attention. attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. stay eager.

Volume depends precisely on the writer's having been able to sit in a room every day, year after year, alone.

Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.

I envy paranoids; they actually feel people are paying attention to them

A good writer possesses not only his own spirit but also the spirit of his friends.