Sometimes I think the reason I became a writer is because I’ve always felt others’ experiences so acutely. When I tell the people who write me letters that their problems keep me up at night, I’m not joking. I’ve been given a huge gift with this column, and I knew I would write it like a motherfucker, but I didn’t know people would embrace Sugar the way they have. I knew I wanted to be a writer, but the crosscurrent was always that I wanted to help people. I didn’t have total faith that I could help people with writing, but as Sugar I feel like I have helped in some small way.

—Cheryl Strayed, in an interview with Bitch Magazine

Read more of the interview here.

And if you want even more Cheryl, come see her at LIVE on October 2!