alps hypertexte

You have to think of the sad lives and commercial failures, which so many great writers have experienced. Look at somebody like Melville. If you're an aspiring writer, do you want to write Moby Dick? Sure. Well, if you're going to do that, that means you're willing to accept not just no success, but poverty and even a certain measure of disgrace for the rest of your life. Can you proudly accept that? If so, you may still not be a good writer, but you're on the right track. If your thing is getting recognition as quick as possible, then I would say why, why do you want that, and is writing going to help you do that? And are you going to be a happier person by having that recognition?

An Interview with William T. Vollmann