That thing you had to force yourself to do-the actual act of writing-turns out to be the best part.

You are going to have to give and give and give, or there's no reason for you to be writing. You have to give from the deepest part of yourself, and you are going to have to go on giving, and the giving is going to have to be its own reward. There is no cosmic importance to your getting something published, but there is in learning to be a giver.

My mind is a neighborhood I try not to go into alone.

I'm one of those religious people who are afraid of everything. I'm instantly worried about everything that could go wrong.

I remember staring at my son endlessly when he was an infant, stunned by his very existence, wondering where on earth he had come from.

I've seen prayers answered. But often, in my experiences, if you get what you pray for, you've really shortchanged yourself.

Rationality squeezes out much that is rich and juicy and fascinating.