I cannot imagine life without books any more than I can imagine life without breathing.

If you are always frightened for yourself you can't act, and then life loses its purpose. You just have to tell yourself that, when you get right down to it, you don't matter all that much.

...[Y]ou have an inner strength that makes it possible for you to do things other people couldn't even begin to think of doing.

I think I make better use of language and imagery than when I started out.

I would also argue that there is a good chance that an outline will help you stave off any onslaught of writer's block. Let me advise you right up front that I am not a big believer in writer's block. I think writer's block is God's way of telling you one of two things - that you failed to think your material through sufficiently before you started writing, or that you need a day or two off with your family and friends.

If you are ever completely satisfied with something you have written, you are setting your sights too low. But if you can't let go of your material even after you have done the best that you can with it, you are setting your sights too high.

If you do not hear music in your words, you have put too much thought into your writing and not enough heart.