A man without a sense of purpose, even one whose bank accounts are stuffed with money, is always a small man.

If I can get it down on paper without puking all over the word processor, then as far as I'm concerned, it's fit to see the light of day.

We either learn to accept or we end up writing letters home with crayons.

That's not such a bad thing,' he said to me. 'In nightmares we can think the worst. That's what they're for, I guess.

The loss of memory isn't always the problem; sometimes--maybe even often--it's the solution.

never's the word God listens for when he needs a laugh.

The first is that good writing consists of mastering the fundamentals (vocabulary, grammar, the elements of style) and then filling the third level of your toolbox with the right instruments. The second is that while it is impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer, and while is equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one, it is possible, with lots of hard work, dedication, and timely help, to make a good writer out of a merely competent one