When I began to write seriously, 40 years ago now, my chosen form was the novel.
A well-off plastic surgeon can suffer just as much as an Irish lad who has been abused or whatever.
My study is a converted garage which is largely lined with bookshelves and cardboard boxes filled with manuscripts of my film scripts, plays and books.
We create our own unhappiness. The purpose of suffering is to help us understand we are the ones who cause it.
Most of the stuff I've read about me has been true.
You know why divorces are so expensive? They're worth it.
What has changed is that nothing has changed... that's what has made me more unhappy than everything else.
My doctor tells me I should start slowing it down - but there are more old drunks than there are old doctors so let's all have another round.
I just enjoy both working and not working.
You don't have to be poor to need something or somebody.
I was influenced a lot by those around me - there was a lot of singing that went on in the cotton fields.
Where I grew up, Bob Wills and his western swing was very popular. And western swing is not that far from jazz and blues.
Writing books is fun because after I do a show for a couple hours, I'm in a bus for 22 hours. It's not hard for me to look out the window and tell a joke here and there.
But if you think of all the people who don't like me, just think of all the millions who've never heard of me!
I don't like to think too far ahead.
When you hear me, you know it's me, regardless of the song.
You could make any song sound creepy if you wanted. It's all about the inflection.
I believe that all roads lead to the same place - and that is wherever all roads lead to.
I like myself better when I'm writing regularly.
There are only so many notes so there must be only so many melodies.
I'm not prejudiced in any way that I can think of. That's just not the guy I am.
