when you are dealing with art, any kind of art, your pleasure in making it is what matters most.

I used to tiptoe up to my bedroom door and leap into my room in an attempt to surprise my dolls in the midst of some kind of action. Unfortunately, they were always too quick for me. I'm still disappointed about that.

It is curious how believable I can be when I criticize myself, how unconvincing when I give myself praise.

Never think of revising as fixing something that is wrong. That starts you off in a negative frame of mind. Rather think of it as an opportunity to improve something you already love.

my experience as a fiction writer tells me that the deeper I look into myself, the more universal is the experience I find there.

It is the nature of stories to leave out far more than they include.

Human beings are storytelling animals. That's what separates us from other creatures, not just having thumbs or using tools.