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 don't get in a position to be frightened. I don't do anything dangerous, and I always pay my bills.

It doesn't have to make sense, it just has to sound like it does.

I don't believe in writer's block. I don't know what that is. There are just certain little areas that I know I'm going to get through. It's just a matter of finding a way.

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

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.'

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.