My attitudes have changed, but somebody would have to read all my books to find out how they have

I never drink while I'm working, but after a few glasses I get ideas that would never have occurred to me dead sober.

You have to expect the raps when you have achieved popularity as a writer

My favorite short-story writer is John Cheever

I never show anything to anybody until I've finished it

If you're young enough, any kind of writing you do for a short period of time is a marvelous apprenticeship.

Writing is like a contact sport, like football. You can get hurt, but you enjoy it.