Fiction is about intimacy with characters, events, places.

Pound's translation of Chinese poetry was maybe the most important thing I read. Eliot a little bit later.

Philip Larkin has a tough honesty and sense of humor that I find irresistible, as a contemporary poet.

Distance not only gives nostalgia, but perspective, and maybe objectivity.

I considered going to film school; I took a course in film and was very interested in filmmaking as well as film writing.

Young writers only take off when they find their subjects. Since almost everyone has a family and stories about family, that is often a place to start.

I encourage students to pursue an idea far enough so they can see what the cliches and stereotypes are. Only then do they begin to hit pay dirt.