In my family, misery didn't just love company, it wanted hostages.

Half the reason I turned into a writer is you didn't have to show up anywhere. You could work naked.

To me, God is like this happy bus driver.

I need - and occasionally love - to write for the same reasons I always did: hard as writing is, it's generally easier than life.

You need an entire drama to construct your life around to avoid living it.

If you're here for four more years or four more weeks, you're here right now. I think when you're somewhere, you ought to be there. It's not about how long you stay in a place, it's about what you do while you're there, and when you go, is that place any better for your having been there?

The art and act of writing - speaking just for myself - involves getting your proverbial ass in the proverbial chair.