When you're a writer, you have to write these stories, even if you don't get paid

I come out of a strong oral tradition in the South.

I'm a social writer in the sense that I want to record, but not in the sense of trying to change people's minds.

If I ever teach writing again, I’d say the first lesson is to listen.

When you're a writer, you have to write these stories, even if you don't get paid

You have to watch out with my plays. They're like yeast. You think they're one thing, then all of a sudden subtext gets to working.

Writing is the thing that props me up.