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

My purpose is to entertain and please myself. I feel that if I am entertained, then there will be enough other readers who will be entertained, too.

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

A man can be in two different places and he will be two different men. Maybe if you think of more places he will be more men, but two is enough for now.

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

After 58 years you'd think writing would get easier. It doesn't. If you're lucky, you become harder to please. That's all right, it's still a pleasure.

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.