It's all about who's where on the food chain. When I'm the story editor, I expect my writers to follow my vision. When I'm working for another editor, I'm obliged to follow their vision.

I realized the only thing I owed my audience was my own judgment and my own best effort.

The bottom line always remains the same: What is the basic humanity of the character? How do I make them resonate with the reader?

What makes a story is how well it manages to connect with the reader, the visceral effect it has.

I think every time you take a female character, a black character, a Hispanic character, a gay character, and make that the point of the character, you are minimalizing the character.

The villain is always more entertaining because he has fewer limitations. The hero is bound by honor, by justice and by the law, sometimes.

I've always thought of myself as an organic writer, rather than a cerebral one. I feel my way along as I go, hoping I'll get to the place I intend to reach.