Unfortunately, there are writers whose only concern is how good they could make themselves look on a title.

Were there stories I wrote along the way that were terrible clinkers? God, yes. But they were all a product of their time, and I did the best I could.

I had never really thought of myself as a writer; any writing I had done was just to give myself something to draw.

I hate the crazy, neurotic characters beyond a certain point.

I consider myself the luckiest man in the world. I have spent a lifetime doing what I love.

I'm a neurotic New York Jew by birth. Creating characters is second nature to me.

Lord of the Rings, I think, is far and away the most brilliantly done stuff.