I think this is when most people give up on their stories. They come out of college wanting to change the world, wanting to get married, wanting to have kids and change the way people buy office supplies. But they get into the middle and discover it was harder than they thought. They can't see the distant shore anymore, and they wonder if their paddling is moving them forward. None of the trees behind them are getting smaller and none of the trees ahead are getting bigger. They take it out on their spouses, and they go looking for an easier story.

People are lonely. They want company and your book can provide them company and a little bit of hope. And there's nothing wrong with that.

I didn't know how story worked. So, when writing the screenplay, people introduced me to the science of it. And I'm grateful. I'll probably use that information for the rest of my career, in terms of writing novels or writing stories. And then, of course, to help me live a better story, a more meaningful story

The downside of being a writer is you get plenty of time to overthink your life.

People want to join a great story. If you want to lead, tell one with your life.

If a piece of genius comes, it comes, and it if doesn't, it doesn't.

We have to have positive male role models.