I never base a character on someone I know. You can get ideas from real life, but every character you write is some aspect of yourself.

Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold.

I think that The Outsiders was meant to be written, and I was just picked to write it.

I don't know why I go to school unless for kicks, oh well might as well do dissect a frog.

Johnny almost grinned as he nodded. "Tuff enough," he managed, and by the way his eyes were glowing, I figured Southern gentlemen had nothing on Johnny Cade.

I go straight from thinking about my narrator to being him.

If you have two friends in your lifetime, you're lucky. If you have one good friend, you're more than lucky