The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.

Jane Austen

Writing a novel is a terrible experience, during which the hair often falls out and the teeth decay. I'm always irritated by people who imply that writing fiction is an escape from reality. It is a plunge into reality and it's very shocking to the system.

Flannery O’Connor

“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”

Mark Twain

Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.

Barbara Kingsolver

“One false word, one extra word, and somebody's thinking about how they have to buy paper towels at the store.”

Patricia Marx