Dear Though The Reader Might Be, I'd

You Know, I Can Imagine Not Writing A Novel And Writing Poetry Only.

Those Books Of Mine That Are Remunerative - I'm Not Talking About Poetry Here - Take Years To Write, And I Am Never Sure They'll Be Successful. So Writing Is A Risk In More Senses Than One.

Revision Has Its Own Peculiar Pleasures And Its Own Peculiar Frustrations. The Ground Rules Are Already Established; The Characters Already Exist. You Don't Have To Bring The Characters To Life, But You Do Have To Make Them More Convincing.

Think Of Many Things. Never Place Your Happiness In One Person's Power. Be Just To Yourself.

I Don't Pick And Choose Subjects Or Settings; They Pick And Choose Me.