I was young and not gloomy and there were always strange and comic things that happened in the worst time.

There are two kinds of stories, the ones you live and the ones you make up. And nobody knows the difference, and I don't ever tell which is which.

I am trying to make, before I get through, a picture of the whole world--or as much of it as I have seen. Boiling it down always, rather than spreading it out too thin. (On Writing.)

That every day should be a fiesta seemed to me a wonderful discovery.

When I am working on a book or a story I write every morning as soon after first light as possible. There is no one to disturb you and is it is cool and you come to your work and warm as you write. You read what you have written and, as you always stop when you know what is going to happen next, you go on from there. You write until you come to a place where you still have your juice and know what will happen next and you stop and try to live through until the next day when you hit again.

Go all the way with it. Do not back off. For once, go all the goddamn way with what matters.

There is a mystery in all great writing and that mystery does not dissect out. It continues and is always valid.