My Views Naturally Have Mellowed.

I Cringe When Critics Say I'm A Master Of The Popular Novel. What's An Unpopular Novel?

I've Gone On The Wagon, But My Body Doesn't Believe It.

The Romantic Idea Is That Everybody Around A Writer Must Suffer For His Talent. I Think A Writer Is A Citizen Of Humanity, Part Of His Nation, Part Of His Family. He May Have To Make Some Compromises.

Every Novelist Has A Different Purpose-and Often Several Purposes Which Might Even Be Contradictory.

Writing Is Like A Contact Sport, Like Football. Why Do Kids Play Football? They Can Get Hurt On Any Play, Can't They? Yet They Can't Wait Until Saturday Comes Around So They Can Play On The High School Team, Or The College Team, And Get Smashed Around. Writing Is Like That. You Can Get Hurt, But You Enjoy It!