A good approach is to allow one dream per novel. Then, in the final revision, go back and get rid of that, too.

— Howard Mittelmark

Giving a reader a sex scene that is only half right is like giving her half of a kitten. It is not half as cute as a whole kitten; it is a bloody, godawful mess.

— Howard Mittelmark

In real life, couples bond and war over a million different things. The causes of divorce are like beautiful, unique snowflakes.

— Howard Mittelmark

...it has been demonstrated through years of workshops that the Artist Within tends to make the same mistakes as the artist within everybody else.

— Howard Mittelmark

Overuse at best is needless clutter; at worst, it creates the impression that the characters are overacting, emoting like silent film stars. Still, an adverb can be exactly what a sentence needs. They can add important intonation to dialogue, or subtly convey information.

— Howard Mittelmark

We do not propose any rules; we offer observations. "No right on red" is a rule. "Driving at high speed toward a brick wall usually ends badly" is an observation.

— Howard Mittelmark