People hear what they want and expect to hear, not what is said.

We shelter children for a time; we live side by side with men; and that is all. We owe them nothing, and are owed nothing. I think we owe our friends more, especially our female friends.

There is no real escape from autobiography into biography. The self has to be faced, or we die.

Another thing that seems quite helpful to the creative process is having babies. It does not detract at all from one's creativity. It reminds one that there is always more where that came from and there is never any shortage of ideas or of the ability to create. The process of being pregnant and then of having the baby and getting up in the night only puts one more in touch with this fecund part of one's self.

I know that I'm a real writer because sometimes I write a story just because I want to; not because someone's told me to.

A 'weakness,' I now realize, is nothing but a strength not properly developed.

The prophets of doom, in my experience, are generally ignored and usually right.