The most difficult part of writing a book is not devising a plot which will captivate the reader. It's not developing characters the reader will have strong feelings for or against. It is not finding a setting which will take the reader to a place he or she as never been. It is not the research, whether in fiction or non-fiction. The most difficult task facing a writer is to find the voice in which to tell the story.

No matter how bad things are, you can always make things worse. At the same time, it is often within your power to make them better

When you're screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they've given up on you.

No job is beneath you. You ought to be thrilled you got a job in the mailroom And when you get there, here's what you do: Be really great at sorting mail.

I didn't know there was a dying-professor section at the bookstore.

It's very important to know when you're in a pissing match. And it's very important to get out of it as quickly as possible.

We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand. If I don’t seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you.