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

Critics in New York are made by their dislikes, not by their enthusiasms.

The last paragraph in which you tell what the story is about is almost always best left out.

A good editor understands what you're talking and writing about and doesn't meddle too much.

There are too many books I haven’t read, too many places I haven’t seen, too many memories I haven’t kept long enough.

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

My views naturally have mellowed. Most of the critics have been more or less nice to me