There is only one kind of good writer.
A dead one.
A dead one?
Really?
Well, that’s just depressing there, John.
Of course, sometimes nobody discovers you until you are gone.
But that can be hard to control, can’t it?
And surprising people can be half the fun, if you let it be.
The only good writer was a dead writer. Then he couldn’t surprise anyone any more, couldn’t hurt anyone any more.
-John Steinbeck, Travels With Charley In Search Of America