The problem with feminism in the second wave was that we fought so much among ourselves, and I think we did so much damage to the movement... and I think the next wave, the third wave, is women mentoring younger women and women helping younger women to enter the political process and the writing world.

Spring, / you are a pinking shears: you cut / fresh edges on the world.

People always think that history proceeds in a straight line. It doesn't. Social attitudes don't change in a straight line. There's always a backlash against progressive ideas.

Coupling doesn't always have to do with sex ... Two people holding each other up like flying buttresses. Two people depending on each other and babying each other and defending each other against the world outside. Sometimes it was worth all the disadvantages of marriage just to have that: one friend in an indifferent world.

As yet we use our media only for selling things - including, of course, political candidates. What will happen when someone masters the art of selling souls?

Writers are always at the edge of the inferno, and the fire is licking at our toes. Luckily, this turns us on!

Feminism is teaching. I've gotten a lot of pleasure pushing younger writers that I've met and worked with.