“If I had to give young writers advice, I would say don't listen to writers talking about writing or themselves.”

“Artists don't talk about art. Artists talk about work. If I have anything to say to young writers, it's stop thinking of writing as art. Think of it as work.”

“Advice to young writers wo want to get ahead without any annoying delays: don't write about Man, write about a man.”

“I never presume to give advice on writing. I think the best way to learn to write is to read booksand stories by bood writers. It's a hard thing to preach about. As Thelonious Monk once said abouthis field, "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture.”

“I had to educate him that there was no such thing as writer's block, that writers write when they write, and when they don't, they don't.”

“Whenever I'm asked what advice I have for young writers, I always say that the first thing is to read, and to read a lot. The second thing is to write. And the third thing, which I think is absolutely vital, is to tell stories and listen closely to the stories you're being told.”