The shelf life of the average trade book is somewhere between milk and yogurt.

I don't cook. I don't know anything about food. I've never reviewed a restaurant.

With humor, it’s so subjective that trying to think of what the ideal reader would think would drive you crazy.

I suppose that there are endeavors in which self-confidence is even more important than it is in writing -- tightrope walking comes immediately to mind -- but it's difficult for me to think of anybody producing much writing if his confidence is completely shot.

A new regulation for the publishing industry: "The advance for a book must be larger than the check for the lunch at which it was discussed.

Sometimes, if I had until the next day to turn the story in, I'd head home, finding that the knot in the narrative came loose with the rhythmic clacking of the subway train.

Money not spent on a luxury one considered even briefly is the equivalent of windfall income and should be spent accordingly.