There is no motivation higher than being a good writer.

A good writer is always a people watcher.

I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter.

I don't think I'm a particularly good writer, and I'm not terribly insightful.

A good writer is not, per se, a good book critic. No more so than a good drunk is automatically a good bartender.

Any good writer is going to be well-received and is going to not be well-received; that's how you know you're a great writer.