Write what you know. That should leave you with a lot of free time.

I have a plot, but not much happens.

I do insist on making what I hope is sense so there's always a coherent narrative or argument that the reader can follow.

It may be said that poems are in one way like icebergs: only about a third of their bulk appears above the surface of the page.

For a Jewish Puritan of the middle class, the novel is serious, the novel is work, the novel is conscientious application why, the novel is practically the retail business all over again.

The spirit world doesn't admit to communicating with me, so it's fairly even.

I've never read a political poem that's accomplished anything. Poetry makes things happen, but rarely what the poet wants.

Once in awhile you have a thought, and you rhyme it.

When modern writers gave up telling stories, they gave up the greatest thing we had.