Updike Worked This Way, And I Just

People Know That Pain Is Part Of Our Nature, That It Cannot Be Avoided And That It Should Not Be Avoided. But Capitalism In This Country Is Focused On The Idea 1) That Life Can And Should Be Absolutely Beautiful; 2) That Beauty Can Be Defined According To An Ironclad Objective Standard; 3) That Beauty Can Be Held Onto Forever If Only You Do The Right Things Perfectly Enough; And 4) That It Can Be Purchased.

It Turns Out That My Memory Is Just Not That Great, So For Specific Scenes With People Doing Stuff, Sometimes I'd Have The Details All Wrong Or I Couldn't Remember What Happened Exactly, So I Just Let That Be.

I'm Trying To Make Sure That There's Comedy As Well As Sadness. It Makes The Sadness More Memorable.

In General, Each Form Is A Relief From The Other Forms. I Can't Write A Novel After A Novel. I Just Use Up All The Material Each Time, And I Need To Rest.

I Turned Forty, And Im Finally Going To Get Married And Maybe Have A Kid.