“(N)ot writing was hard work, almost as hard as writing.”

“Arithmetic is the death of story.”

“Just start the sentence...and see what happens. This is how we write.”

“(D)ialogue is generally the worst choice for exposition. 'When you're writing lines...you need to focus on the way people actually talk. And when we talk to each other we never actually expl...”

“(T)here are worse things than falling on your face right out of college...Like instant, unearned success. Like getting your first novel accepted by the first publisher you send it to. Like g...”

“(T)hey were at ease with each other, which was essential to a productive workshop.”