One step at a time, I can walk around the world. Watch me.

Growing up, I have discovered over time, is rather like housework: never finished.

I have a catch-phrase to describe my plot-generation technique -- 'What's the worst possible thing I can do to these people?'

The rule for finding plots for character-centered novels, which is to ask: 'So what's the worst possible thing I can do to *this* guy?' And then do it.

Most people go through their whole lives without killing anybody. False argument.

A good friend of my son's is a son to me.

For a while, I thought I was going mad. At last, I became reconciled to my despair. The medications helped, too, I thought, sir.