The best writing really does come from the deepest, most private part of you.

I can write two scripts concurrently, but I usually prefer to do one at a time. However, I also usually have 5 or 6 story ideas that are percolating in my head at any one time, so it can get a little crowded in there.

Working at Pixar has been like my graduate school for screenwriting.

I had read enough mediocre scripts and was determined not to inflict another one on the world.

If you write a bunch of different characters with a bunch of different opinions, you end up with these long scenes of everyone standing around talking.

It drives me crazy when people say, "All we're trying to do is create entertainment." I feel like people go to movies for more than that.

I figured I’d probably write 50 scripts in my life. Out of those 50, I figured maybe five would be produced, and that maybe one or two would be successful. So I always kind of expected I’d write at least one successful film in my life. [...] The way it all came together was kind of like Murphy's law in reverse—I don’t expect that kind of experience again any time soon.