I felt that I should come home and see if there was something I could do for the people. Not for the country, not for the nation, not for the society, but for my people—that was my notion.

What’s the difference between the two things—between the country and the people—for you?

People buy my books. The country doesn’t.

I don’t research when I write novels, because imagination is my asset, my gift.

I have learned so many things from music about writing. I think there are three important elements: rhythm, harmony, and free improvisation. I learned these things from music, not from literature. And when I started to write, I tried to write as though I were playing music.

I want to do is write serious, complicated, difficult things in a very easy style that is fluid and comfortable to read.

life is a kind of laboratory where you can try anything

If you can write, you’re not fixed. You can be anybody else—you have that possibility.

My rule is to try something new every time

one, criticizing someone is easy; two, creating something original is very hard; three, but somebody’s got to do it.

I respect the daily routine