Americans are incredibly polite as long as they get what they want.

I think if you spend much time dwelling on influence you can get self-conscious about every line you write. That's a great way to freeze up.

Eruptions of talent continue to happen in Haiti, in spite of everything.

If you could figure out how to live with family then you'd gone a long way toward finding your peace.

I'm ashamed and embarrassed to say that I've read very little of David Foster Wallace's work. It's a huge gap in my education, one of many.

I took two fiction-writing courses in college and majored in literature. I felt that I had a knack though I wouldn't go so far as to call it a talent. But it scared me. I felt it was a childish thing wanting to write and that I would forget about it eventually.

The funny thing is, about the time I let go of any aspiration toward worldly success, that's about the time I started writing decent work.