There's a ton of truth in Flannery O'Connor's notion that "Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days."

Don't try to outguess what's going on in publishing, and write what you want to write.

Think about all the selfish non-smokers out there, driving around on asphalt, drinking water out of the tap, not even thinking about how smokers' taxes help pay for it all.

I don't smoke because I like to do so, but because it makes me pay cigarette taxes, which helps build roads and water supplies.

One day we will all cherish the memory of having blacksmiths on every corner.

You do not have to explain every single drop of water contained in a rain barrel. You have to explain one drop-H2O. The reader will get it.

Keep a small can of WD-40 on your desk-away from any open flames-to remind yourself that if you don't write daily, you will get rusty.