I never attended a creative writing class in my life. I have a horror of them.

But sometimes it's like you just meet someone and you just know that you're totally connected, and this person is, like, your brother - or your sister. Even if they don't, like, recognize it, you feel it. And in a lot of ways it don't matter if they do or they don't see that for what it is - all you can do is put the feeling out there. That's your duty. Then you just wait and see what comes back to you. That's the deal.

First rule of writing: When still a child, make sure you read a lot of books. Spend more time doing this than anything else.

I wouldn't write about people who are living and who are close to me, because I think it's a very violent thing to do to another person. And anytime I have done it, even in the disguise of fiction, the results have been horrific.

As far as I'm concerned, if you want to find out about the last day of WWII or the roots of the Indian Mutiny, get thee to a books catalogue.

People profess to have certain political positions, but their conservatism or liberalism is really the least interesting thing about them.

When I was young, I was very technical about these things. I didn't like to admit to any intimate relation with what I was writing.