The deepest secret in our heart of hearts is that we are writing because we love the world.

Play around. Dive into absurdity and write. Take chances. You will succeed if you are fearless of failure.

Oh, my passion! That is what finally carried me through. Let passion burn all the way, heating up every layer of the psyche.

I think book publishing is fun, but I also know I've been very lucky.

I love and care about literature, and great writers are our teachers. You're studying their mind when you read their work.

This is your life. You are responsible for it. You will not live forever. Don't wait.

Too often we take notes on writing, we think about writing but never do it. I want you to walk into the heart of the storm, written words dripping off hair, eyelids, hanging from hands.