went to see the movie Factotum, about Bukowski, on Sunday; if I wasn't already a writer I'd now be under the impression that being a writer means drinking constantly and never shaving. I could never write drunk. coffee, now that's a writing drug.

anyway, there was a line, something like "whenever I doubt my talent I read another writer and then I know I have nothing to worry about". I googled it - yes, google is officially a verb now, but I can't be bothered googling the dictionary reference to prove it - but couldn't find it. it could be an adaptation of his statement that he can tell when another writer is faking it.

when I read another writer, a good one, I despair. the gap between vision and execution is so wide. but at least I have, I think, I hope, the vision.