In fact, you couldn't give me anything to make me go back to being a teenager. Never. No, I hated it.

Often, you have to fail as a writer before you write that bestselling novel or ground-breaking memoir. If you're failing as a writer - which it definitely feels like when you're struggling to write regularly or can't seem to earn a living as a freelance writer - maybe you need to take a long-term perspective.

Professor Trelawney: "Everything went pitch-black and the next thing I knew I was being hurled headfirst out of the room!" Harry Potter: "And you didn’t see that coming?" Professor Trelawney: "No, as I say it was pitch — ” [Glares at Harry angrily]

That's chess!" snapped Ron. "You've got to make some sacrifices!

Well, you're expelling us aren't you?" said Ron. "Not today, Mr. Weasley." Snape looked as though Christmas had been canceled.

At fourteen, you really do start realising that the world is not a safe and protected place or not always.

We let off a Dungbomb in the corridor and it upset him for some reason—" "So he hauled us off to his office and started threatening us with the usual—" "—detention—" "—disembowelment—