An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment the world hands out and the punishment he inflicts upon himself.

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

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

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

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

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

Posterity makes the judgments. There are going to be a lot of surprises in store for everybody.