I've been astonished how often, when I convince a writer to tell a story more straightforwardly and to tell it more simply and directly, it turns out that this author is great and the story is wonderful.

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

Censorship is all around us, I don't think it's innate.

Anyone with an imagination can write about the day-to-day experiences of someone he or she is not.

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.

I find that I get very excited about what my students are up to and that I get to be the hurdle they need to jump over.

You may be somebody who writes best for a small press that doesn't pay very well, but you might have a fascinating and intricate style that might not appeal to as many readers but will be incredibly meaningful to the readers you have. Truly, that's as wonderful if not more wonderful.