Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavour.

Other voices, other rooms.

Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade, just as painting does, or music. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself.

A story can be wrecked by a faulty rhythm in a sentence—especially if it occurs toward the end—or a mistake in paragraphing, even punctuation.

A boy has to peddle his book.

Never demean yourself by talking back to a critic.… Write those letters to the editor in your head, but don’t put them on paper.