but writers, Garp knew, were just observers - good and ruthless imitators of human behavior.

Be serious. Life hurts. Reflect what hurts. I don't mean that you can't also be funny, or have fun, but at the end of the day, stories are about what you lose.

The unspoken factor is love. The reason I can work so hard at my writing is that it's not work for me.

No touching Baby Jesus.” “But we’re his parents!” proclaimed Mary Beth, who was being generous to include poor Joseph under this appellation. “Mary Beth,” Barb Wiggin said, “if you touch the Baby Jesus, I’m putting you in a cow costume.

A part of adolescence is feelimg that there's no one else around who's enough like youself to understand you.

My life as a writer consists of 1/8 talent and 7/8 discipline.

If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.