The clouds were building up now for the trade wind and he looked ahead and saw a flight of wild ducks etching themselves against the sky over the water, then blurring, then etching again and he knew no man was ever alone on the sea.

That is what we are supposed to do when we are at our best - make it all up - but make it up so truly that later it will happen that way.

We wait always for something that does not come.

And who understands? Not me, because if I did I would forgive it all.

Once in Africa I lost the corkscrew and we were forced to live off food and water for weeks.

It is very bad for (an artist) to talk about how he (creates). It is not the (artist's) province to explain or to run guided tours through the more difficult country of his work. It's none of their business that you had to learn. Let them think you were born that way.

The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day when you are writing a novel you will never be stuck. That is the most valuable thing I can tell you so try to remember it.