Prufrock had measured out his life with measuring spoons; Dubin, in books resurrecting the lives of others.

You write by sitting down and writing. There's no particular time or place—you suit yourself, your nature. How one works, assuming he's disciplined, doesn't matter.

I work with language. I love the flowers of afterthought.

Of course it would cost something, but he was an expert in cutting corners; and when there were no more corners left he would make circles rounder.

First drafts are for learning what your novel or story is about. Revision is working with that knowledge to enlarge and enhance an idea, to re-form it.... The first draft of a book is the most uncertain-where you need guts, the ability to accept the imperfect until it is better.

Prufrock had measured out his life with measuring spoons; Dubin, in books resurrecting the lives of others.

A man had to learn, it was his nature.