We still have so many cultures in which people are imprisoned and whipped and killed for writing what they think.

I love to read nonfiction and memoir, but I'm mostly interested in the piece of writing more than the person.

Sometimes I write well when I'm very upset.

When an editor first explained to me the difference between direct and indirect writing, I just thought it was a stylistic choice.

I think you have to remember that writing is hard; my first editor used to say that to me.

Whoever would write books? It's suffering as well as greatly satisfying. And certainly there's suffering in the sense that you don't know for a long time how to do it.

I get to a certain point, and I think in a novel it's about the third draft, when I want other eyes on it.