Everybody should customize their names.

There is such a thing as the poetry of a mistake, and when you say, "Mistakes were made," you deprive an action of its poetry, and you sound like a weasel.

Because it is the Midwest, no one really glitters because no one has to, it's more of a dull shine, like frequently used silverware.

At least with pets, and for all I know, people too, intelligence and quick-wittedness have nothing to do with a talent for being loved, or being kind, nothing at all, less than nothing.

Try to get your characters into interesting trouble. Allow your characters to misbehave. Let them stay out after 11.

Forget art. Put your trust in ice cream.

I prefer short stories, but publishers would, of course, rather that writers produce novels, since novels are still more commercially viable.