Im working on a bunch of things with my daughter Emily. In some ways, shes a smarter and better editor than I am.

I, myself, write to change my life, to make it come out the way I want it to. But other people write for other reasons: to see more closely what it is they are thinking about, what they may be afraid of. Sometimes writers write to solve a problem, to answer their own question. All these reasons are good reasons. And that is the most important thing I'll ever tell you. Maybe it is the most important thing you'll ever hear. Ever.

In a way, my childhood was one long bunch of pages... I read and read and read.

I love to talk to children about making mistakes. Its important that I tell them about how I dont get it right the first time. We live in such a perfectionist society, and they see so many finished products and polished performances.

Im working on a bunch of things with my daughter Emily. In some ways, shes a smarter and better editor than I am.

There is always something to miss, no matter where you are.

Sometimes poetry--words--give us a small, lovely look at ourselves. And sometimes that is enough.