It's a scary thing for fiction writers, when you're always writing from the point of view both as and for someone who is different.

Inevitably we start by thinking that if our work is any good, we'll get money. It's as we would if you started up a business or if you work in another profession.

Sometimes it's interesting to see what people who have too much control need to do to write freely.

Somehow we have to detach from feeling as though money is a quick and easy standard by which we can gauge how well we're doing.

I just like doing it, I like writing.

I don't really like to tell people to get out drugs.

When I've taught writing to five, six, and seven year olds, it's not very different than talking to an adult writer. They're writers then, and when they get to be young teenagers they're not anymore. You might go and talk to them about writing, and they'll be very self-conscious or will have detached themselves from the group.