“Writing is an act of ego, and you might as well admit it.”

“I almost always urge people to write in the first person. Writing is an act of ego and you might as well admit it.”

“Writing is thinking on paper”

“Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon.”

“Write about small, self-contained incidents that are still vivid in your memory. If you remember them, it's because they contain a larger truth that your readers will recognize in their own lives. Think small and you'll wind up finding the big themes in your family saga. ”

“Be true to yourself and to the culture you were born into. Tell your story as only you can.”

“Examine every word you put on paper. You'll find a surprising number that don't serve any purpose.”