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

Have compassion for yourself when you write. There is no failure - just a big field to wander in.

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

I feel very rich when I have time to write and very poor when I get a regular paycheck and no time at my real work.

I have students that I tell, "If your book doesn't sell or you can't publish it, write another book. Quit sitting around." The publishing world is a business, but it's not any big deal. An editor is not your guru. Your agent is not your guru.

I don't think everyone wants to create the great American novel, but we all have a dream of telling our stories-of realizing what we think, feel, and see before we die. Writing is a path to meet ourselves and become intimate.

Understand that writing is like an athletic activity. To play tennis well, you expect to keep practicing, but for some reason with writing, you think you should come out fresh the first time.