I do have fun writing, and a long time ago, I told myself, 'You got to have fun at this, or it'll drive you nuts.'

The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in.

Avoid prologues: they can be ­annoying, especially a prologue ­following an introduction that comes after a foreword.

My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers: when you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip.

I started out of course with Hemingway when I learned how to write. Until I realized Hemingway doesn't have a sense of humor. He never has anything funny in his stories.

I once saw Dizzy Gillespie at a live show, and it made me want to go home immediately and start writing.

I don't have any of the modern stuff. I don't have e-mail. I don't have a computer!