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.

You should know that there are some things for which there are no answers, no matter how beautiful the words may be.

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.

I never work from an outline, and often I dont know how the story will end.

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

Being married to a psychologist, I realize that I learn more from imperfections.

I think its important to remember where I began. I know that when I talk to other writers, say, writers from the South or writers from abroad, its where they begin as children that is important to them.