“Writing is supposed to be difficult, agonizing, a dreadful exercise, a terrible occupation.”

“For being good is a fearful occupation; men strain at it & sometimes break in two. I've known a few. You work twice as hard to be a farmer as to be his hog.”

“They came to study the dreadful vulgarity of this imaginary Mass Man they pretend to hate. But they're fascinated with the snake-pit. ”

“If you enjoy living, it is not difficult to keep the sense of wonder.”

“Don’t try to write a novel. Write short stories and then figure out how to connect them.”

“Write a short story every week. It's not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.”

“Love. Fall in love and stay in love. Write only what you love, and love what you write. The word is love. You have to get up in the morning and write something you love, something to live for.”