You'll never make your mark as a writer unless you develop a respect for words and a curiosity about their shades of meaning that is almost obsessive. The English language is rich in strong and supple words. Take the time to root around and find the ones you want

Memoir is the art of inventing the truth.

Probably every subject is interesting if an avenue into it can be found that has humanity and that an ordinary person can follow.

The sound of the bat is the music of spring training.

Ultimately the product that any writer has to sell is not the subject being written about, but who he or she is.

Even a poor translator couldn't kill a style that moves with such narrative clarity.

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.