There's the belief that we can't be smart enough to write. And certainly censorship of women, too.

When I've taught writing to five, six, and seven year olds, it's not very different than talking to an adult writer. They're writers then, and when they get to be young teenagers they're not anymore. You might go and talk to them about writing, and they'll be very self-conscious or will have detached themselves from the group.

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

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

We're always inventing, even if we're making someone who's fairly close to ourselves.

There seems to be a tremendous desire among many people now to know authors and how they work, to know what's autobiographical and what isn't.

Inevitably we start by thinking that if our work is any good, we'll get money. It's as we would if you started up a business or if you work in another profession.