Writing is like the relationship with your bowels. First you can, then you can't. Finally, you must. Only then should you reach for the paper.

I have a plot, but not much happens.

I do insist on making what I hope is sense so there's always a coherent narrative or argument that the reader can follow.

Nothing in the universe can travel at the speed of light, they say, forgetful of the shadow's speed.

Short stories amount for the most part to parlour tricks, party favours with built-in snappers, gadgets for including recognition and reversals

We think about sex obsessively except during the act, when our minds tend to wander.

History is where tensions were.