Along with John Hughes, he's probably the biggest influence. Would be awesome not only to meet him; he's one person I'd also definitely like to work with.

I don't know whether we'll have another Michael Jackson or Elvis, because the world's too quick to level the playing field in that regard. For example, if Michael Jackson did the moonwalk for the first time now, and it debuted on Twitter, the third comment would probably be: "He's just walking backwards."

I’ve always tried to find God in lots of different things, whether that’s been drugs, women, etc, etc… But all those things are tangible and they exist and you can see them and you can feel them. Music doesn’t exist, physically. Yet is commands ever facet of my personality and it has the power to command people how to feel on a physical level, uncontrollably. And I find that so fascinating.

As I tell my intro creative writing students, after reading someone you love, wait at least an hour before starting to write.

Life's too short to drink crappy coffee and cry over boys who don't care.

I think one of the dangers of humor is becoming seduced by it and sacrificing the story for a few laughs.

There's a lot of particularly good things going on in my life at the moment. It's the fact that I get to be an ambassador for the concept of modernity. I can be creative and useful. And I don't have to grow up.