And we all get mired in the bullshit, the personality quirks, the personality disorders (ours and everyone else's), the jealousy, the disappointment, the blocks, the financial struggle, our egos, I do it too, I do it too, but if you can't remember it is all about the work and nothing else then I can't help you and you can't help yourself and you will lose. I promise you. You will lose.

You can quit smoking, and never have to have a cigarette again to survive. But with food, it is a daily challenge.

With apologies to all my past boyfriends, I never loved a man the way I loved my old apartment.

In 1998, I started a blog, something I could control very easily and update at my own whim.

Maybe just as many women writers as male writers could be billed as the next great American writer by their publisher. Maybe book criticism sections could review an equal amount of female and male writers. Maybe Oprah could start putting some books by women authors in her book club, since most of her audience is women.

I remember being banned from other houses as a younger child during the winter holiday season; I was the only one who didn't believe in Santa Claus, and I was ruining everyone's Christmas.

I wish I could write while I'm on the road but it never works for me. I need to be sitting still.