Zadie Smith on writing.

"Novels are not about expressing yourself, they're about something beautiful, funny, clever and organic... Go and ring a bell in a yard if you want to express yourself."
2 responses

Do you agree? I'm not sure (if I do)...

The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to agree with her.  One thing is for sure; writing takes a ton of discipline, and I'm not sure if discipline and self-expression mix very well.  I might not have said it as harshly as she, but I think things like fashion and decor are better channels for self expression than writing is.  I do think writing is more about conveying human/worldly/spiritual truths than anything else, and these things all reach far beyond your personal self.