Clarity and perseverance are difficult in American society because the basis of capitalism is greed and dissatisfaction.

Whether you're keeping a journal or writing as a meditation, it's the same thing. What's important is you're having a relationship with your mind.

Friends open the door for me to write. Then I get paid attention to and it allows me to write other books. The Great Spring and the thirtieth anniversary of Bones just came out and while I'm happy and excited about that, I've already finished a new book. That's what practice does. You don't get caught.

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

Don't let yourself be thrown away....Continue on no matter what....Continue to make a positive effort for the good.

Be tough in the way a blade of grass is: rooted, willing to lean, and at peace with what is around it.

You don't need to go to a therapist, you don't need to do all kinds of things. If you want to write, you physically have to do it.