Inkslinger On writing, on books, and on book arts

William Faulkner: On Economic Freedom, Free Money, and Backs of Hands (The Paris Review Interviews, Vol. 2)

William Faulkner

Sometimes, William Faulkner's stories stem from an image.

So shall this post.  I had a chuckle--over the picture, then over this quote.

Faulkner:

No.  The writer doesn't need economic freedom.  All he needs is a pencil and some paper.  I've never known anything good in writing to come from having accepted any free gift of money.  The good writer never applies to a foundation.  He's too busy writing something.  If he isn't first-rate he fools himself by saying he hasn't got time or economic freedom.  Good art can come out of thieves, bootleggers, or horse swipes.  People really are afraid to find out just how much hardship or poverty they can stand.  They are afraid to find out how tough they are.  Nothing can destroy the good writer.  The only thing that can alter the good writer is death.  Good ones don't have time to bother with success or getting rich.  Sucess is feminine and like a woman; if you cringe before her, she will override you.  So the way to treat her is to show her the back of your hand.  Then maybe she will do the crawling.