Really, when I write a book I'm the only one I have to please. That's the beauty of writing a book instead of a screenplay.

There are cities that get by on their good looks, offer climate and scenery, views of mountains or oceans, rockbound or with palm trees. And there are cities like Detroit that have to work for a living.

I used to be able to write five pages a day, every day, no problem. Now a good day is five or four pages, and that's from 9:30 A.M. until 6 P.M.

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

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.'

My characters have to talk, or they're out. They audition in early scenes. If they can't talk, they're given less to do, or thrown out.

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