It's probably why I'm a short story writer. I tend to remember things in the past in narrative form, in story form, and I grew up around people who told stories all the time.

When I was about 14 or 15 I decided to become a writer and never for a moment since have I wanted to do anything else.

That, for me, is a very important test of a young writer's commitment because most of them are going to have to continue doing that when they've finished the program.

The reason a writer writes a book is to forget a book and the reason a reader reads one is to remember it.

My whole life experience feeds into my writing. I think that must be true for every writer. Clearly the Army and combat were major influences; just the same, you need to understand that many of the writers we have now couldn't load a revolver.

Success comes to a writer as a rule, so gradually that it is always something of a shock to him to look back and realize the heights to which he has climbed.

Academics love to make theories about a body of work, but each book consumes the writer and is the sum of his or her world.

I am a writer who happens to love women. I am not a lesbian who happens to write.

I like 'Bewitched' off the first album because it's one of the happiest songs I've ever written and, as any writer will tell you, happy songs are a million times more difficult to write than sad songs.

I've experienced writer's block, but never for more than a few days.

Science fiction readers probably have the gene for novelty, and seem to enjoy a cascade of invention as much as a writer enjoys providing one.

Being a writer was never a choice, it was an irresistible compulsion.

An incinerator is a writer's best friend.

I wanted to do - there was this film called 'Magic' that Anthony Hopkins did. And the director wanted me. The writer wanted me. Joe Levine said no, I don't want any comedians in this.

I am an old, old friend of Aaron Sorkin's, who is the executive producer and writer. He had been talking about doing a political show for a long time and I had been interested in it for a long time. The moment I became available, he called me last year and asked me if I wanted to do it and then I just had to audition for the powers that be, and I got it.