I've been writing for a long time. I sat down to write my first novel in the middle of March of 1982.

my major form of exercise is jumping to conclusions.

There are old riders and bold riders, but no old bold riders.

When I began writing, the words that inspired me were these: A writer is someone who has written today. If you want to be a writer, whats stopping you?

Jealousy is an emotion. It doesn't have to make sense. In fact, it usually doesn't.

Give the girl an inch and she thinks she's a ruler.

A writer is someone who has written something today

When you have an important story to tell, the words you need seem to come of their own accord.

Beyond a certain point, that was all a mother could do for her children - Hang around long enough to drive them crazy.

As I get older, the things I'm sure of become fewer.

I now can be sure that, once I start writing a book, I'll be able to finish it. I've also become more assured about my 'voice' as a writer and being able to keep the characters true to themselves.

I don't believe in God. And I certainly don't feel chosen.""I think you may be."I smiled dubiously. "Thank you.""It is not meant as a compliment. Hazard makes you elect. You cannot elect yourself.

Certainly, it’s wise to ask for counsel in whatever you endeavor to do. There is safety in that. But when the asking comes from a place of dependence, it is unhealthy.

There would be no cloud-nine days without rock-bottom moments left below.

Most people do not take care of their lives, because they don’t value life

Be loyal to those who are loyal to you. And respect everyone, even your enemies and competition.

If you look at the best-seller list for American fiction, they're all sequels to detective stories or stories about hunting serial killers. That's what's called American fiction these days.

I learned that to be amusing was not to be frivolous and that language - always the language - was the magic key as much to prose as to poetry.

We all have hometown appetites. Every other person is a bundle of longing for the simplicities of good taste once enjoyed on the farm or in the hometown left behind.

A good saying often runs the risk of being thrown away when quoted as the speaker's own. [Fr., C'est souvent hasarder un bon mot et vouloir le perdre que de le donner pour sien.]

Every Man owes some of his time to the upbuilding of the profession to which he belongs.