Because we grew up surrounded by big dramatic story arcs in books and movies, we think our lives are supposed to be filled with huge ups and downs. So people pretend there is drama where there is none.

Educate yourself, welcome life's messiness, read Chekhov, avoid becoming an architect at all costs.

The complicated futility of ignorance.

The only way to get anything out of a writer's brains is to leave him or her alone until he or she is damn well ready to write it down.

My ancient history teacher, Millie Lloyd, should have worn a medal for her performance at the battle of Thermopylae. She was excited and we were excited.

I think that novels that leave out technology misrepresent life as badly as Victorians misrepresented life by leaving out sex.

If I should ever die, God forbid, I hope you will say, 'Kurt is up in heaven now.' That's my favorite joke.