I think you have to remember that writing is hard; my first editor used to say that to me.

I think people feel for a long time that they ought to know how to write a novel in two drafts.

Whoever would write books? It's suffering as well as greatly satisfying. And certainly there's suffering in the sense that you don't know for a long time how to do it.

We still have so many cultures in which people are imprisoned and whipped and killed for writing what they think.

In many cultures, women are sometimes literally kept from learning to read or from going to school.

There's the belief that we can't be smart enough to write. And certainly censorship of women, too.

You have to write fiction that mirrors the actual world, which has people of all sorts in it.

I heard a white writer say, 'Oh, I'd never put black people in my writing, I'm afraid I would offend someone by doing it wrong.' I can't bear that!

There is a lot of censorship about writing that's exerted from all directions, from families or governments and society, even the fear of being offensive in some way.

Little children are all writers.

I love it when people can help me with my work, so I do show it.

I made up my mind not to care so much about the destination, and simply enjoy the journey.

This dangerous girl. This captivating beauty.This destroyer of worlds and creator of wonder.

Gorgonised me from head to foot With a stony British stare.

Form is the shape of content.

One thing is sure, there are just two respectable ways to die. One is of old age, and the other is by accident.

Only wisdom and virtue can truly win men's devotion.

Find time still to be learning somewhat good, and give up being desultory.

I was the last one to screen test for The Hardy Boys. I'd like to play that's not as clean-cut as Frank Hardy. I play him as straight as possible

Courage conquers all things.