I write out of enthusiasm. Momentum that comes from a new idea. Eagerness to explore. I also write out of fear - fear of losing an idea - fear of feeling stagnant.

In fiction, I have a residual guilt when I focus on story over language or mood or whatever - the more "literary" things. In screenwriting, I don't have that guilt because story is the only thing. Character, dialogue, everything else - they feed into and drive story.

I rarely exercise at all, except I have some hand weights that I'll lift idly while I'm watching TV. I did do some push-ups last week and somehow hurt my shoulder.

I feel like having an actual taxidermy-ed mammal would get gross, like its hair would get dirty and stuff.

I was tired of working in an office and I wanted to make a living telling stories. There are not many people who find a way to do this.

Sometimes I try to meditate, which I hope will help, but it doesn't really. But lots of times my dreams have the seed of an intriguing story.

We're lucky to be in the middle of a TV renaissance. It's the healthiest storytelling medium in our culture.