“I think that the number one thing that I didn’t understand when I was younger was that everything would change constantly. I think there was this misconception that the moment is forever and therefore when things weren’t going well, I was just in a state of active despair and I feel like I suffered more than I needed to during years when, in fact, I was unfettered and should have been having the time of my life! What was the big deal? Looking back, I’m just like, “Why didn’t I read 50 more books instead of spinning my wheels the way I did.” Everything will change and I think the other big point is “don’t worry about the industry, just keep getting better.”
- Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Egan, asked in this excellent interview in Paper Magazine if she had advice for twentysomething writers. BTW, have you read A Visit From The Good Squad? Everyone I know loves that book. Just saying.