...he thought of dying as a kind of adventure, something new that he hadn't yet experienced. Like an unusual vacation trip.

...it's closeness that does you in. Never get too close to people, son.

Some people are aware of everything that is going on everywhere at every moment in their lives.

Not until the final draft do I force myself to remember that I'm going to have to think about how it will affect other people.

It is very difficult to live among people you love and hold back from offering them advice.

Point of view is not something I consciously decide. Almost always, when I come up with a plot I find that the point of view has automatically arrived with it, part and parcel of the story.

It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once you get to know them.