My most important rule is one that sums up the 10: If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.

After 58 years you'd think writing would get easier. It doesn't. If you're lucky, you become harder to please. That's all right, it's still a pleasure.

Skip the boring parts.

I want the reader to know what's going on. So there's never a mystery in my books.

A man can be in two different places and he will be two different men. Maybe if you think of more places he will be more men, but two is enough for now.

I don’t think writers compete, I think they’re all doing separate things in their own style.

I always felt, you don’t have a good time doin crime, you may as well find a job.