I think that it's more likely that in my 60s and 70s I will be writing poetry rather than fiction.

The best books of our times have included the three mature volumes of Philip Larkin. They're very short books of poems, and very carefully arranged.

When you have an idea for a story, you want those characters to reach as many people as you can. I think you normally think of prose as a way of doing that. It fits our time, the culture.

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

In the best fiction, the language itself can become almost invisible.

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.

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