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Writers do draw inspiration from their own lives, which, quite frankly, might be more interesting than fiction.

There are a few writers whose lives and personalities are so large, so fascinating, that there's no such thing as a boring biography of them - you can read every new one that comes along, good or bad, and be caught up in the story all over again.

When I started to be a writer, I was not going to run the risk of boring you.

I think writers are observers and watchers. We always have our ears open and eyes open, so I might see something in everyday life that inspires me. And I think that's probably more than anything else. Everyday life is where I get my inspiration.

One good reason for writing novels based on your life is that you have something to read in old age when you've forgotten what happened.

I find that nonfiction writers are the likeliest to turn out interesting novels.

I'm not one of those true writers who can't bear not to be writing. Yet it's one of the most important things in my life.

I write about stuff that happens to me, so I try to live as interesting a life as possible.

Writers are socially observant. We find people endlessly fascinating, and real life is mysterious. Sometimes it's hard to stop staring at the strut and squawk of my fellow man. They can be quite inspiring. Sometimes it's hard to stop talking to them to see what in the world they're thinking.

You have to live in order to have something to write about - you get caught up in moviemaking and celebrities and money, and it's very intoxicating, but it doesn't give you what you need as a writer. You have to do something else for that.