I've always been a bit of a pessimist in regard to mankind. Donald Ray Pollock More Quotes by Donald Ray Pollock More Quotes From Donald Ray Pollock I'm probably the least cerebral guy you're ever going to meet as a writer. Donald Ray Pollock meet going you guy I would like to write a book that wasn't so violent and weird, but I just don't think I can do that with my talent. I don't think it would come off. Donald Ray Pollock weird think talent book If the story wasn't overly long, I'd type it out. And I'd carry it around with me for a week and jot notes on it, and then I'd throw it away and do another one. Donald Ray Pollock story me week long I would try to write my own story about some East Coast suburbanite having an affair or something like that. So I did that for maybe two years or so, and it just wasn't working for me at all. Donald Ray Pollock story try me my-own I was 35 when I started taking classes at Ohio University. After I got my degree, I kept working at the mill. When I was 45, I decided I was going to try to learn how to write short stories. Donald Ray Pollock short how try university When I was growing up, I just wanted to be somewhere else. I didn't like living in Knockemstiff, and I figured when I got older, I'd move off to some big city. Donald Ray Pollock city like living growing-up Nobody really turns out too happy in any of my stuff. It's really strange, because I'm actually a pretty happy person. I'm not walking around giggling or anything like that, but I've got this feeling that everything is okay with my life. Donald Ray Pollock my-life walking happy life I listen to a lot of different stuff, from Mozart to Johnny Dowd to Monster Magnet. I don't listen to music while I'm writing a draft, but I do listen to it when I'm revising. Donald Ray Pollock listen music different writing I'm not sure about 'absolute' happiness, but I am happiest when I go to bed at night knowing that I tried to do my best that day. Donald Ray Pollock i-am best day happiness I'm not really a good reader. What I mean is, I think I'm not one of those people who can read a story and analyze it just like that. Donald Ray Pollock story good think people Don't get me wrong: I think that everyone should put forth an effort to do better, but let's face it, some of us are just plain luckier than others. Donald Ray Pollock face think me effort I am very indebted to southern writers and not just Flannery O'Connor. Also Harry Crews, Larry Brown, Tennessee Williams, Barry Hannah and William Gay. Donald Ray Pollock i-am just brown gay