You can't tell a writer they should just be more confident.

Truly things are better in general now, in America, than in the past.

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.

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

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

For some people, it's very easy to be spontaneous and they can pour out the most wonderful stuff. But it's really hard to exert control over it, to think, 'Well, this could be different. This could go in the opposite order, there could be more here and less there.' For other people, it's much easier to have rules and a methodology, but much harder to let loose and allow their feelings to come pouring out on the page. They're more shy or they're just more distant from their emotions. I think everybody starts with one or the other.

I heard a white writer say, 'Oh, I'd never put black people in my writing, I'm afraid I would offend someone by doing it wrong.' I can't bear that!