Readers in the woods...

I adore this quote by the great John Cheever, discussing his creative process as a writer:

"The sense is of one's total usefulness. We all have a power of control, it's part of our lives: we have it in love, in work that we love doing. It's a sense of ecstasy, as simple as that. It always leaves you feeling great. In short, you've made sense of your life.

"All sorts of pleasant and intelligent people read [my] books and write thoughtful letters about them. I don't know who they are, but they are marvelous and seem to live quite independently of the prejudices of advertising, journalism, and the cranky academic world....The room where I work has a window looking into a wood, and I like to think that these earnest, loveable, and mysterious readers are in there."

Now that really touches my heart.