The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in.

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.

It's my attempt to remain invisible, not distract the reader from the story with obvious writing.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.

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.'

Using adverbs is a mortal sin.

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.