Notes

Every morning, no matter how late he had been up, my father rose at 5:30, went to his study, wrote for a couple of hours, made us all breakfast, read the paper with my mother, and then went back to work for the rest of the morning.(xii)

We are a species that needs and wants to understand who we are. Sheep lice do not seem to share this longing, which is one reason they write so very little. But we do. We have so much we want to say and figure out.(3)

Say to yourself in the kindest possible way.(20)

This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts.
I know some very great writers, writers you love who write beautifully and have made a great deal of money, and not one of them sits down routinely feeling wildly enthusiastic and confident.(21)

Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft.
Besides,perfectionism will ruin your writing, blocking inventiveness and playfulness and life force.Perfectionism means that you try desperately not to leave so much mess to clean up. But clutter and mess show us that life is being lived. (28)