I understand the rush. A lot of people want to talk about their accomplishments. Before I bore you with all the details of how and why I got there, I think it’s important to take a moment to think about what writing is for me — and better yet, to talk about what writing is not.

I think the most important thing to realize is that writing is about the art of creation: it’s not about success or fame. Ernest Hemingway talked about writing the truest sentence one can write. I also think a lot about the depth of egocentricity that makes us want to be accepted and respected for what we do. Some amount of ego is essential — I think without it you wouldn’t be able to create anything. But the danger lurks in trying to feed your ego through your written words.