There is a difference between writing about yourself and about your personal life. Nowadays- not only in Turkey, but wherever I travel, mostly in Europe- young writers want to turn their lives into books, into novels, because they believe their lives are that important. Mostly I tell those kids who want to be writers that you have to have your own ideas. Of course, I myself am in my novels and books, but I strongly believe that you must distinguish between your life and your ideas.
Buket Uzuner- PEN America Journal #15 (via penamerican)