Philip Roth is a fabulous writer, but he pretty much stays within his own life. He's so good - I mean, practically anything I've ever read of his I've really enjoyed. He just has tremendous talent. But I think he should have given himself a break and gone deeper into the society.

My father was the editor of an agricultural magazine called 'The Southern Planter.' He didn't think of himself as a writer. He was a scientist, an agronomist, but I thought of him as a writer because I'd seen him working at his desk. I just assumed that I was going to do that, that I was going to be a writer.

As an actor, I really like Philip Seymour Hoffman. I think he's a genius.

Most people don't read editorial pages. I think I must have been 40 before I even looked at an editorial page.

There is no motivation higher than being a good writer.

I think a man turns into a writer by editing his own texts.