"I think most writers feel like they're on the outside looking in much of the time. All of us feel, to a certain extent, alienated from the stuff going on around us"

The quote recommends that lots of writers feel separated from the world around them as well as often feel like they are observing from the sidelines as opposed to completely taking part. This sensation of alienation might be a typical experience amongst authors, that may seem like outsiders in the middle of the hustle and bustle of every day life.