I look at everything. God gave me eyes and I look at women and men and subway excavations and moving pictures and the little flowers of the field. I casually inspect the universe.

Every novelist has a different purpose-and often several purposes which might even be contradictory.

Kennedy was a man who liked writers and even I got invited to the White House

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

I haven't stuck to any formula. Most great writers stick to the same style, but I wanted to be more various

I am forced to say that I have many fiercer critics than myself.

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