I would recommend, definitely, developing a 'day job' that you like - don't expect to make money writing!
I first read 'Madame Bovary' in my teens or early twenties.
My stories are sometimes closer to poems or meditations, but often there is at least a little narrative in them.
I find teaching - I like it, but I find just walking into the classroom and facing the students very difficult.
I always interrupt work with other work, either in a small way or big way, so that's normal.
Collections aren't really planned. I just keep writing short pieces until I have enough for a collection.
I don't like to hurt people's feelings, and I don't like to knock other writers as a matter of principle.
I do see an interest in writing for Twitter.
I think the close work I do as a translator pays off in my writing - I'm always searching for multiple ways to say things.
I never dream in French, but certain French words seem better or more fun than English words - like 'pois chiches' for chick peas!
I see people sometimes who remind me of my narrators.
I've gotten very alert not just to mixed metaphor but to any writing mistake.
Of course we may have any number of translations of a given text - the more the better, really.
