Eventually, I came to believe, stupidly, that I had exhausted that story's "original" form with its single use. I went on to other stories, other forms and genres.

A first-person voice helps to ensure the uniformity and cohesiveness of the narrative; it gathers unto itself incidents and characters in its unstoppable progress toward the story's end.

I don't know about ground rules; but I create the world that arrives with the characters or situation or voice in my head that instigates the piece, whatever form it may take.

My fondness for extended monologue might have been encouraged by two decades of writing stage and radio dramas.

I tell myself that, regardless of what source I draw on, I'm writing a new work for reasons peculiar to me and not an adaptation, and so feel, in the end, justified in singing it my way.

I admitted that I did not understand life. What I meant was that I am bewildered by human hearts and motivations, including my own.

I very much like the idea of the unreliable narrator. Shaping my fictions as monologues - by introducing the "I" - allows me to be as unreliable as I like.

For me, fiction's great gift - to writer and reader, alike - is freedom.

I'm too ambitious to give another man credit, even if that other man is only myself in disguise.

When I was awarded a fellowship in poetry by the National Endowment for the Arts (for "Alphabets"), I felt myself suddenly (vaingloriously) equal to my Crow, which would be - I knew at once - Rat.

I do seem to favor a deathbed confession as the occasion for my dramatic monologues.

Music heals miserable heart.

Everyman has his own destiny: The only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads him.

Everyone is always learning something new, " my father would remind me when he checked to see if I was doing my homework and found me gazing out the window at the stars. "If not, why be alive?

Family life got better and we got our car back - as soon as we put "I love Mom" on the license plate.

People who are willing to get off their arse to search the entire room for the TV remote because they refuse to walk to the TV and change the channel manually.

Beyond the deepest tragedy there is laughter; even in the midst of tragedy there is always the possibility for laughter.

The invasions are totally unacceptable and should be stopped forthwith by whoever is doing it.

Know that you hold my heart, my hopes, in your hands.

Resist your fear; fear will never lead to you a positive end. Go for your faith and what you believe.

We promise that the events of 1991 will not happen again. We have pledged to remove Saddam. And we will deliver.