Only by means of such discipline can the young man acquire that physical loathing for the beloved and much-admired elegance of style of our newspaper manufacturers and novelists, and for the ornate style of our literary men.

My experience with songwriting is usually so confessional, it's so drawn from my own life and my own stories.

Each song is a child I nourish and give my love to. But even if you have never written a song, your life is a song. How can it not be?

As far as songwriting, my inspirations came from love, life and death, and viewing other people's situations.

For me, life is writing and I can do it anywhere. It doesn't matter where I am. I listen. I write. I live.

Whether it's a letter, song lyrics, part of a novel, or instructions on how to fix a kitchen sink, it's writing. You keep your craft honed, you acquire the discipline to finish things. You turn into a self-taskmaster.