Bad writing is more than a matter of (expletive deleted) syntax and faulty observation; bad writing usually arises from a stubborn refusal to tell stories about what people actually do to face the fact, let us say, that murderers sometimes help old ladies cross the street.

Remember that 'plumber in space' is not such a bad setup for a story.

When you're six, most of your Bingo balls are still floating around in the draw-tank.

Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.

Time continued to pass - the oldest trick in the world, and maybe the only one that really is magic.

It's a mystery. That's the first thing that interests me about the idea of God. If there is one, it's mysterious and powerful and awesome to even consider the concept, and you have to take it seriously.

the only mortal sin is giving up.