My characters have to talk, or they're out. They audition in early scenes. If they can't talk, they're given less to do, or thrown out.

I spent most of my dough on booze, broads and boats and the rest I wasted.

My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers: When you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Or, if proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go. I can't allow what we learned in English composition to disrupt the sound and rhythm of the narrative.

The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in.

What do you tell a man with two black eyes? Nothing, he's already been told twice.

It doesn't have to make sense, it just has to sound like it does.

Using adverbs is a mortal sin.

At the time I begin writing a novel, the last thing I want to do is follow a plot outline. To know too much at the start takes the pleasure out of discovering what the book is about.

Try not to write the parts that people skip.

All the information you need can be given in dialogue.

Knowing that you want to die makes you less scared.

In this month he had been too happy to sin much

While we are examining into everything we sometimes find truth where we least expected it.

With all its variety and liveliness, color acts in the work of art as blood does as it circulates through our bodies. Color is what keeps the painting alive and moving.

Brevity may be the soul of wit, but not when someone's saying "I love you.

Nothing stands out so conspicuously, or remains so firmly fixed in the memory, as something which you have blundered.

I'm an actress so the amount of rejection and commentary you get right to your face is pretty rough.

There are two parties, so-called, but they're really factions of the same party, the Business Party.

Until time and space exist... I vow to come back for the benefit of other beings.

I never worked less than 16-hour days on South Beach.