This is motherhood for you,' said my own mother. 'Going through life with your heart outside your body.

The condom broke. I know how stupid that sounds. It's the reproductive version of the dog ate my homework.

The difference between people who believe they have books inside of them and those who actually write books is sheer cussed persistence - the ability to make yourself work at your craft, every day - the belief, even in the face of obstacles, that you've got something worth saying.

If a writer writes poems and short stories and novels, but nobody ever reads them, is she really a writer?

Do I want to spend my diminished working hours writing or answering email? Now I have somebody read through them. If someone has something really important to tell me I write back. Otherwise they get the auto reply.

I don't like futons. They can't commit. I'm a bed! I'm a couch! I'm a bed! I'm a couch!

If you get the you-are-a-genius label, it can limit you. Because I'm not so scrutinized, I have more freedom. And that let's me write what I want.