The Six Golden Rules of Writing: Read, read, read, and write, write, write.

We looked at each other, and I could see in those big reddened eyes that he was not going to scream. He was full of anger - and who could blame him? - but he was no fool. He needed me, and he wanted me here, if only to insult me.

Today I must write a paragraph or a page better than I did yesterday.

I suppose I started writing seriously at 16 years old. I thought I wrote a novel at 16 and sent it to New York! They sent it back because it wasn't novel.

I think I'm a very religious person. I think I believe in God as much as any man does. I don't only believe in God, I know there's God.

And that's all we are Jefferson, all of us on this earth, a piece of drifting wood. until we - each of us, individually- decide to become something else. I am still that piece of drifting wood, and those out there are no better. But you can be better.

I try to write something that would interest anybody and keep them turning the page. You must have a plot and good storyline.