Writing a story I am just trying to find some little interesting thing to start out with: something small, even trivial. Preferably something that doesn't have a lot of thematic or political baggage - a little crumb that is interesting.

I'm always aware of writing around things I can't do, and I've come to think that that's actually what 'style' is - an avoidance of your deficiencies.

I have a lot of theories about the beneficial effects of fiction, but I'm always trying to get away from them a little bit.

I try to keep my artistic opinions not so much "to myself" but "on myself."

I think the path for a young writer might be one that says, "I have to accept myself, this is what I am. I can't eradicate my defects. I can work on them."

I'm very happy - if I can do even a little bit of work to get the short story out more, I'm thrilled.

...smile first, then speak.