Neal Stephenson compares writing to programming. One thing he says rings true to me--writing with a fountain pen can help you to improve the quality of your daily output. As for his other comments, I'm not sure I agree with all of them, but reading other writers discussions of the writing process always reassures me. It demystifies the process, and when some of their observations ring true, I feel like part of their fraternity.
Of course, Manhattan is the mecca for writers, so it's particularly enjoyable to hear New York authors discuss how they got started in the biz.