For me, writing a short story is much, much harder than writing a novel.

There is nothing that compares to an unexpected round of applause.

Editors of open anthologies actively seek submissions from all comers, established and unknown. They are willing to read whatever the tide washes up at their feet.

I'm one of those writers who, when writing, believes she's god-and that she hasn't bestowed free will on any of her characters. In that sense there are no surprises in any of my books.

I'm a writer first and an editor second... or maybe third or even fourth. Successful editing requires a very specific set of skills, and I don't claim to have all of them at my command.

That bedrock faith that I could write was what blinded me to attempts to discourage me.

For me, writing a short story is much, much harder than writing a novel.