Here are 5 things I learned reading: Literary Life, Larry McMurtry (Amazon).
1. Death and rebirth is an everlasting theme – if you need something to hang your hat on.
2. The title to Lonesome Dove came from Lonesome Dove Baptist Church.
3. Many other writers dislike their own words too. (Here also.)
4. Most great novels are written by 50-year-olds.
5. The power of still writing applies to novels too.