Our work is great; our time is short; the consequences of our labors are infinite.
Americans are incredibly polite as long as they get what they want.
The funny thing is, about the time I let go of any aspiration toward worldly success, that's about the time I started writing decent work.
If you want to write, then write; if you don't want to write, then don't write. I fell into the former category, and I just made the decision that I'd keep on because I liked it and might someday do something decent.
I realized I was never going to have any peace with myself unless I made an honest stab at trying to write.
I'm a writer, not an editor, and though the editing rarely cut into my writing time, it did take away from that walking-around-thinking-about-it-when-you're-not-thinking-about-it time that I think is important for writers. When you're half-thinking about what you're working on while driving, cooking. . . just letting things sift and settle, come to you.
I quit law in 1988 to start writing, and it took me 17 years from that point to get a book contract. I guess you can say I was on the slow train.
To me, the word 'decadent' is so difficult to use; it's a very sensitive word, in a way.
Life is warning you to get rid of an addiction every time you are emotionally uncomfortable in any way.
If there were a button I could press, I would sacrifice myself without hesitating, if it meant millions of people would die.
Before I put on my make up, I say a little prayer for you.