You can't possibly judge your ability to control something until you've experienced the extremes of its capabilities. Do you understand?

I think that if people are instructed about anything, it should be about the nature of cruelty. And about why people behave so cruelly to each other. And what kind of satisfactions they derive from it. And why there is always a cost, and a price to be paid.

"If you paid me for work," continued Max, whose rhetoric was more sophisticated than you might expect from a man with food in his beard, "I wouldn't have to feel worthless. There's not law says old people have to feel worthless all the while, you know. You paid me, I'd have some dignity." Now it was Mile's turn to nod and smile agreeably. "I think the dignity ship set sail a long time ago, Dad."

When you don't know what to do, try something; if that doesn't work, try something else.

Ultimately, your theme will find you. You don't have to go looking for it.

A short story is something that I think can be intuited and envisioned and held in your mind almost at once.

I just have this feeling that if it weren't for the Gloversville Free Library that I probably would not be a writer.