No one in my family was a reader of literary fiction. So, I didn't have encouragement, but I didn't have discouragement, because I don't think anybody knew what that meant.

But she never looked back with regret. There were so many ways for things to get better. -Jing-mei

I saw a girl complaining that the pain of not being seen was unbearable... Now I have perfect understanding. I have already experienced the worst. After this, there is no worse possible thing.

Writing what you wished was the most dangerous form of wishful thinking.

You have to be your own person. You can't let people's opinions determine how you think about yourself. There's a difference between identity and self-identity.

I thought I was clever enough to write as well as these people and I didn't realize that there is something called originality and your own voice.

I've always been a magnet for guilt.