I realized the only thing I owed my audience was my own judgment and my own best effort.

It all depends on which side of the desk you're sitting on.

I've always thought of myself as an organic writer, rather than a cerebral one. I feel my way along as I go, hoping I'll get to the place I intend to reach.

If a story isn't working, I'm simply unable to finish it. That's what usually tells me something is wrong.

I've never sat down and thought about the difference between plot and theme. To me, that's never been important.

When someone writes to tell me something I've written made them laugh or cry, I've done my job and done it well. The rest is all semantics.

What makes a story is how well it manages to connect with the reader, the visceral effect it has.