Guilt, a driving force

The single greatest obstacle to American literature today: guilt. Guilt leads to the idea that all writing is self-indulgence. Writers feel guilty for not doing real work, that mysterious activity--where is it?

Writing does not consist of overcoming human weakness and bad habits. Writing well does not mean omitting needless words.

"Dear young writers...write long novels, pointless novels. Do not be ashamed to grieve about personal things...write with dignity, not in guilt. How you write is how you will be read."

-Elif Batuman