The important question has nothing to do with whether the talk in your story is sacred or profane; the only question is how it rings on the page and in your ear. If you expect it to ring true, then you must talk yourself. Even more important, you must shut up and listen to others talk.

Sometimes loving eyes don't see what they don't want to see.

Guys, gals, now hear this: No one wants to take away your hunting rifles. No one wants to take away your shotguns. No one wants to take away your revolvers, and no one wants to take away your automatic pistols, as long as said pistols hold no more than ten rounds. If you can't kill a home invader (or your wife, up in the middle of the night to get a snack from the fridge) with ten shots, you need to go back to the local shooting range.

The stories we hear in our childhood are the ones we remember all our lives.

Want a Coke?” Abra asked. “Sugar solves lots of problems, that’s what I think.

The most important things are the hardest to say

Black as night and as beautiful as forever.