“The best that an individual can do is to concentrate on what he or she can do, i…” — Elizabeth Bowen

If a theme or idea is too near the surface, the novel becomes simply a tract illustrating an idea.

The importance to the writer of first writing must be out of all proportion of the actual value of what is written.

I became, and remain, my characters' close and intent watcher: their director, never. Their creator I cannot feel that I was, or am.

I think the main thing, don't you, is to keep the show on the road.