Do not be taken in by 'insiderisms.' Fledgling columnists, eager to impress readers with their grasp of journalistic jargon, are drawn to such arcane spellings as 'lede.' Where they lede, do not follow.

The most fun in breaking a rule is in knowing what rule you're breaking.

Never put the story in the lead. Let 'em have a hot shot of ambiguity right between the eyes.

English is a stretch language; one size fits all.

I could get a better education interviewing John Steinbeck than talking to an English professor about novels.

Create your own constituency of the infuriated.

A book should have an intellectual shape and a heft that comes with dealing with a primary subject.