The writer’s way is rough and lonely, and who would choose it while there are vacancies in more gracious professions, such as, say, cleaning out ferryboats?
I like best to have one book in my hand, and a stack of others on the floor beside me, so as to know the supply of poppy and mandragora will not run out before the small hours.
If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second-greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first-greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy.
![Dorothy Parker Quote - [On the ringing of her doorbell or telephone:] What fresh hell is this?](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/on-the-ringing-of-her-doorbell-or-telephone-what-f-683x1024.jpg)
