Here at last is her smile: burn it into your memory; you won't see it often.

An ear will never do you wrong, but I know writers who... most of the language they use is just extracted language from other languages they've read. I am a big-time reader, but I mix and match.

If you want to make a human being into a monster, deny them, at the cultural level any reflection of themselves

I was surrounded by a lot of male writers of color who have this incredibly bizarre relationship to masculinity. It's like we were all mega-nerds but you would never know that if you listened to the way they talk about themselves.

When she smiles niggers ask her for her hand in marriage; when I smile folks check their wallets.

I am a chatty person, but colossally discreet.

but back then, in those first days, I was so alone that every day was like eating my own heart.