Good writing is lean and confident.

Rewriting is the essence of writing well - where the game is won or lost.

A writer is always working.

Not every oak has to be gnarled, every detective hard-bitten. The adjective that exists solely as a decoration is a self-indulgence for the writer and an obstacle for the reader.

The best way to learn to write is to study the work of the men and women who are doing the kind of writing you want to do.

Good writing is lean and confident.

Never say anything in writing that you wouldn't comfortably say in conversation. Be yourself when you write. If you're not a person who says 'indeed' or 'moreover,' or who calls someone an individual ('he's a fine individual'), please don't write it.