No... a novel is a long business. I'm a slow writer, even when I'm doing very well I write slowly.

Here I was into astronomy, and here into anthropology, and there I go into geology. It was much more fun to be able to research and write about whatever I wanted to.

In my years, I have seen that people must be their own gods and make their own good fortune. The bad will come or not come anyway.

Fantasy is totally wide open; all you really have to do is follow the rules you've set. But if you're writing about science, you have to first learn what you're writing about.

Third, for people who aren't doing it already, take classes - they're worthwhile. Workshops or classes - a workshop is where you do actually get feedback on your work, not just something where you go and sit for a day.

I'm a pessimist if I'm not careful, a feminist, a Black,...an oil-and-water combination of ambition, laziness, insecurity, certainty, and drive.

No... a novel is a long business. I'm a slow writer, even when I'm doing very well I write slowly.