The thing all writers do best is find ways to avoid writing.

Keep writing. Try to do a little bit every day, even if the result looks like crap. Getting from page four to page five is more important than spending three weeks getting page four perfect.

Don't try to write to the trend of the moment.

I hear entire symphonies, oratorios, in my head, but I can't write a note.

I write early in the morning, usually after reading portions of at least half a dozen newspapers on the web.

I've been writing full-time since 1978.