“What is the best way to write? Each of us has to discover her own way by writing. Writing teaches writing. No one can tell you your own secret. ”

“Each of us has his own way of emerging from the underworld, mine is by writing. That's why the only way I can keep going, if at all, is by writing, not through rest and sleep. I am far more likely to achieve peace of mind through writing than the capacity to write through peace.”

“The best way to write a novel is to do it behind your own back.”

“The Writer's Oath I promise solemnly: 1. to write as often and as much as I can, 2. to respect my writing self, and 3. to nurture the writing of others. I accept these responsibilities and shall honor them always.”

“I live to write but, I read to live.”

“To read and write will help you understand life. . .to sew and mend will help you survive it.”

“There isn't, unfortunately, any way of discovering whether you can write a publishable novel except by writing it.”