How Important Is the Sound of the Words to Your Writing?

“Vital.”

That’s the short answer to a great question posed to William H. Gass at the reading and book signing event for his new novel, Middle C.* He did expand on that, of course. But what a perfect word: vital. And Gass’s statement, “Vital,” was perfectly delivered. Slow. Stark. Sensual. And with exactly the right pause afterward. Exactly.

Thank you, Mr. Gass, thank you.