As a young writer you automatically want to ignore what’s in your backyard because you feel if it’s from here, it ain’t good. It just can’t be that damn good.
“I’m a writer. My thoughts are formed by writing. When I want to think with any seriousness about a topic, I write about it. Writing slows the thought processes down to where one can follow them — and elaborate on them — more efficiently. Writing is how I do my thinking. Thus, if you want to understand what I think, ask me to write — not to speak.”
Samuel R. Delany