For a short-story writer, a story is the combination of what the writer supposed the story would likely be about - plus what actually turned up in the course of writing.

The principle of literature is devotion to the particulars of life.

Apprenticeship is one of the dearest roles of childhood, not just watching Dad or Mother, but being taught a hands-on trade.

The more original a short-story writer, the odder looking the assortment of things he or she puts together for a story.

No one is shallow and vulgar forever; sooner or later the whole species likes to be profound.

It is very difficult to teach navigation theory to someone who clings to the shore.

Literature has low enough standards. But we can avoid writing the worst literature if we make ourselves ask ourselves, every two or three sentences we write, 'Is that what I really think?'