Never use a verb other than ‘said’ to carry dialogue.

There's nothing like work to take your mind off your worries.

I try to leave out the parts readers skip.

Never use an adverb to modify the verb 'said' . . . he admonished gravely. To use an adverb this way (or almost any way) is a mortal sin. The writer is now exposing himself in earnest, using a word that distracts and can interrupt the rhythm of the exchange.

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.

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.

Don't worry about what your mother thinks of your language.