Actually if a writer needs a dictionary he should not write. He should have read the dictionary at least three times from beginning to end and then have loaned it to someone who needs it. There are only certain words which are valid and similes (bring me my dictionary) are like defective ammunition (the lowest thing I can think of at this time).

You're awfully dark, brother," he said. "You don't know how dark.

What a writer has to do is write what hasn't been written before or beat dead men at what they have done.

Something, or something awful or something wonderful was certain to happen on every day in this part of Africa.

Hombre, there are bodegas open all night long.

I'm not unfaithful, darling. I've plenty of faults but I'm very faithful. You'll be sick of me I'll be so faithful.

When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.