I had a series of terrible jobs, whatever would allow me to write for four hours during the day. During that time I wrote three novels - all of which were extraordinarily poor. I decided after that to go and get my MFA.

When I write new worlds, I work in layers, building and throwing out, and building anew.

You had to pick up a landline to make sure your best friend wore a matching outfit to school. I do remember people talking more. Nostalgia is dangerous, though.

I'm a writer, not an actor. I want to write rather than perform. I'm looking forward to disappearing for a while.

My childhood was as conventional as you could get.

I think that writers have natural canvases, and my canvas, even in short stories, often seems to be the scope of a life.

I think attempting to make art is a utopian process in itself, definitely. Nothing I do is ever equal to the ideas in my head. You do the best you can, you do it with patience and love, and then you give up. The moment you give up is when you know the book is done.