You have to write a lot. And you have to rewrite what you wrote a lot more.

Mirroring behavior. When a mark takes a drink from his water glass, so should you. When he smiles, so should you. Keep it subtle, rather than creepy, and it’s a good technique.

She says that what you did was a cry for help." "It was," I say. "That's why I was yelling 'Heeeelp!' I don't really go in for subtlety.

His words were still clear in her mind from that first meeting. "Whoever eats this will love you." She looked into the mirror, at her birthmark, bright as blood, at her kiss-stung lips, at the absurd smile stretching across her face. Carefully separating out the crushed pieces of shell, she pulled the dried pulp free from its cage of veins. Piece by piece, she put the sweet brown fruit in her own mouth and swallowed it down.

She loves the serene brutality of the ocean, loves the electric power she felt with each breath of wet, briny air.

You're like this leopard who's pretending to be a house cat.

Sometimes,” Sam says, “I can’t tell when you’re lying.” “I never lie,” I lie.