Interview of Joy Williams in the new Paris Review. Won’t have time to read it until tomorrow. (Five unplanted burning bushes are awaiting the spade.)
Recall Williams once saying that a writer should be smart, but not too smart. Dumb enough to break himself to harness.
Remember Ray Carver saying something similar. That writers don't need to be the smartest guy on the block. Just smart enough to be amazed by simple things.
Those words hit me this morning when I got after a badly-written paragraph, ripped it apart, and discovered a good story beneath.