I think you have to remember that writing is hard; my first editor used to say that to me.

Being part of a community of writers is huge. I really think that's why people go to MFA programs.

I don't think a white person can write accurately and convincingly about what black people experience of oppression.

There are so many different ways, most of them helpful and legal, to get yourself into a state of mind where writing is possible. It's going to be different for each person.

When an editor first explained to me the difference between direct and indirect writing, I just thought it was a stylistic choice.

This is true in other fields, too, that a legal aid lawyer gets a whole lot less money than a Hollywood lawyer who handles the estates of celebrities. Maybe the legal aid lawyer is doing something better, though, and maybe they're happier. It's not a completely unheard of idea, but I do think we have to remind ourselves at times to look for satisfaction in other ways.

I love to read nonfiction and memoir, but I'm mostly interested in the piece of writing more than the person.