I get letters. I get several a week, I think. A lot of people want a picture, a lot of people just want an autograph.

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

There are 500 million people on Facebook, but what are they saying to each other? Not much.

If work was a good thing, the rich would have it all and not let you do it.

Don't go into great detail describing places and things, unless you're ­Margaret Atwood and can paint scenes with language. You don't want descriptions that bring the action, the flow of the story, to a standstill.

I still read Hemingway. I still read his short stories because they're so good. He doesn't waste any words.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.