It is the nature of stories to leave out far more than they include.

Writing the opening lines of a story is a bit like starting to ski at the steepest part of a hill. You must have all your skills under control from the first instant.

It is curious how believable I can be when I criticize myself, how unconvincing when I give myself praise.

Human beings are storytelling animals. That's what separates us from other creatures, not just having thumbs or using tools.

Never think of revising as fixing something that is wrong. That starts you off in a negative frame of mind. Rather think of it as an opportunity to improve something you already love.

Description needs to slide into a story like a snake through grass - silently, almost invisibly, without calling attention to itself. It should enrich every story moment without slowing the action.

my experience as a fiction writer tells me that the deeper I look into myself, the more universal is the experience I find there.