Those who write about life, reflect about life. you see in others who you are.

The short story packs a self in a few pages predicating a lifetime

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.

We're persecuted in the most civilized languages.

Completed, most lives were alike in stages of living-joys, celebrations, crises, illusions, losses, sorrows.

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.

No use fanning up hot coals when you have to walk across them.