Reading ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ and ‘East of Eden’ had a profound effect on me. I have recently read Tortilla Flat and thoroughly enjoyed it. He writes with such candour. The writing about the plight of the Dust Bowl refugees and their exploitation was an eye-opener.
If you’re in trouble, or hurt or need – go to the poor people. They’re the only ones that’ll help – the only ones.
That’s been my experience too. I’ve lived in poor areas of London and Hull and have been exceedingly poor myself. You always can count on people to give you a helping hand if you need it.
No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose that they are like himself.
What assumptions we make? Every one of us is different. Who can know what somebody else has been through or feels like? Who knows what their consciousness is like?
No one wants advice – only corroboration.
We all think we are right – but we can’t all be right. I enjoy having an argument as long as it doesn’t get too personal and abusive. It keeps the brain sharp. I have even been known to change my mind!
The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true.
So difficult when you are writing a book that requires so many hours of concentration and belief. Decades of lack of success tend to dent your belief. But I’m still writing and my books are brilliant!
It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.
The subconscious is far better than the conscious for solving problems. It just needs a bit of time.
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