He and the girl had almost nothing to say to each other. One thing he did say was, 'I ain't got any tattoo on my back.' 'What you got on it?' the girl said. 'My shirt,' Parker said. 'Haw.' 'Haw, haw,' the girl said politely.

I write any sort of rubbish which will cover the main outlines of the story, then I can begin to see it.

The writer should never be ashamed of staring. There is nothing that does not require his attention.

Remember that you don't write a story because you have an idea but because you have a believable character.

We are now living in an age which doubts both fact and value. It is the life of this age that we wish to see and judge.

There may never be anything new to say, but there is always a new way to say it, and since, in art, the way of saying a thing becomes a part of what is said, every work of art is unique and requires fresh attention.

I never understand how writers can succumb to vanity - what you work the hardest on is usually the worst.