If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), "Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?" chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death.

The professional conducts his business in the real world. Adversity, injustice, bad hops and rotten calls, even good breaks and lucky bounces all comprise the ground over which the campaign must be waged. The field is level, the professional understands, only in heaven.

There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is enormously powerful. It saved my life, and it will save yours.

To yield to Resistance deforms our spirit. It stunts us and makes us less than we are and were born to be.

The critic hates most that which he would have done himself if he had had the guts.

Put your ass where your heart wants to be.

You are a writer when you tell yourself you are. No one else's opinion matters. Screw them. You are when you say you are.