But once you allow yourself to recognize necessity, you find two things: One you find your options so restricted that the only course of action is obvious, and, two, that a great sense of freedom comes with the decision.

The novel should be understood as a structure built to accommodate the greatest possible amount of cool stuff.

I’ve heard it said: ‘By his home you shall know him’; and we all know that we must pay attention to anyone who reverses the subject and auxiliary verb in his sentence.

One nice thing about putting the thing away for a couple of months before looking at it is that you start appreciate your own wit. Of course, this can be carried too far. But it's kind of cool when you crack up a piece of writing, and then realize you wrote it. I recommend this feeling.

Plan. Yes. Good idea. I should come up with a plan.

I'm told I'm very charming when people do what I want.

You can't put something together again unless you've torn it apart first.