Let it be. Silly song, really. You let it be, it returns. There's the truth. You let it be, it drags you to the ground. You let it be, it crawls up your walls.

Ultimately, you can only ever write what you know. It's logically and philosophically impossible to write what you don't know.

A lot of people think that writers are much cleverer than they actually are. No, they're not. But they're emotionally clever, and they go into a character, and they feel something that they weren't entirely aware of beforehand.

Give life long enough and it will solve all your problems, including the one of being alive.

I think a good novel can be a doorstop to despair. I also think the real bravery comes with those who prepared to go through that door and look at the world in all its grime and torment, and still find something of value, no matter how small.

He might have been naive, but he didn't care; he said he's rather die with his heart on his sleeve than end up another cynic.

I'm only telling you on the truth," he said. "If you can't stand the truth, don't ask for it.