Make no judgments where you have no compassion.

Of course, an exhausting day at sail lines and nets left little energy to expend on running or laughing. Perhaps that was why her parents couldn't appreciate her music - it wouldn't appear to be hard work to them. Menolly shook her hands, letting them flap from her wrists. They ached and trembled from the constricted movements and tension of an hour of intensive playing. No, her parents would never understand that playing musical instruments could be as hard work as sailing or fishing.

I do outlines when I'm writing with someone, but they also need to have a certain amount of freedom

James Blish told me I had the worst case of "said bookism" (that is, using every word except said to indicate dialogue). He told me to limit the verbs to said, replied, asked, and answered and only when absolutely necessary.

I did not have a chance to write novels until my youngest child started school fulltime

Make no judgments where you have no compassion.

I have always used emotion as a writing tool. That goes back to me being on the stage