a man who builds a house never really dies.

Try not to become disappointed if someone doesn't like a story you've written. Stick up for your ideas, but listen to what other people say, too. They might have good advice.

It changes you for ever, but you are changing for ever anyway.

When you are writing, of course, you have to do all that writing and correcting for yourself. When I was a librarian it was expected that I would know about a wide range of books.

I, personally, have found reading a continual support to writing.

People can say what they like about the eternal verities, love and truth and so on, but nothing's as eternal as the dishes.

When you are reading, someone has done a lot of work on your behalf, someone has had ideas and has then written and corrected and improved them so that they can be shared.