How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
The next day he went to his parents and said he was willing to donate the blood. So they took him to the hospital where he was put on a gurney beside his six-year-old sister. Both of them were hooked up to IVs. A nurse withdrew a pint of blood from the boy, which was then put in the girl's IV. The boy lay on his gurney in silence while the blood dripped into his sister, until the doctor came over to see how he was doing. Then the boy opened his eyes and asked, "How soon until I start to die?" (27.10)
Maybe writers have to be able to give like this. The little boy in the story is literally willing to give up everything for his sister since he thinks he's going to die if he donates blood to her. Luckily, he's misunderstood what giving blood means, and he'll be just fine. But maybe Lamott is saying this is how writers have to be willing to give: if you put your whole self into the work, no matter what it costs you, maybe you'll give readers something significant about life.