“A lot of our writers, like Conan O'Brien, moved on to other things”

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”

“Writing is not a great profession as a lot of writers proclaim. I write because this is something I can do. Another thing—very often I think a lot of writers write because they have failed to do other things. How many writers can’t drive? A lot. They’re not practical. They are not capable in everyday life.”

“You’re presumptuous and arrogant and a whole lot of other things if you think I’ve changed my mind.” “You see, that’s just it.” There he was again, moving into my space. “I think you like the ‘other things.”

“Winston Smith: Does Big Brother exist?O'Brien: Of course he exists.Winston Smith: Does he exist like you or me?O'Brien: You do not exist.”

“The worst thing for a writer is to know another writer, and worse than that, to know a number of other writers. Like flies on the same turd.”