“Writing stopped being fun when I discovered the difference between good writing …” — Truman Capote

The quietness of his tone italicized the malice of his reply.

Fame is only good for one thing - they will cash your check in a small town.

I got this idea of doing a really serious big work-it would be precisely like a novel, with a single difference: Every word of it would be true from beginning to end.

Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade just as painting does, or music. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself.