Writing is the action of thinking, just as drawing is the action of seeing and composing music is the action of hearing.

Write a true, careless, slovenly impulsive, honest diary every day of your life.

Work freely and rollickingly as though you were talking to a friend who loves you. Mentally (at least three or four times a day) thumb your nose at all know-it-alls, jeerers, critics, doubters.

the death of any loved parent is an incalculable lasting blow. Because no one ever loves you again like that.

Self-trust is so important. When you launch on a story, make your neck loose, feel free, good-natured. And be lazy. Feel that you are going to throw it away. Try writing utterly unplanned stories and see what comes out.

Unless you listen, people are weazened in your presence; they become about a third of themselves. Unless you listen, you can't know anybody. Oh, you will know facts and what is in the newspapers and all of history, perhaps, but you will not know one single person. You know, I have come to think listening is love, that's what it really is.

We start out in our lives as little children, full of light and the clearest vision.