But what are our stories if not the mirrors we hold up to our fears?

Only there's two sides to every story, you know. You just remember that.

If you risked love, it took you wherever you wanted to go. If you repressed it, you ended up unhappy.

I thought about how love was always the thing that did that - smashed into you, left you raw. The deeper you loved, the deeper it hurt.

I try to find something that applies not to me only, but to others, but don't try to control it too much. Essentially it is about what moves us, teaches us about ourselves.

Look, don't just stare at the pages," I used to tell my students. "Become the characters. Live inside the book.

I love revising. If you demystify the process, it comes down to four strategies: what can I do to make the draft better; what should I cut out to make it stronger; what do I need to do to clarify it; and finally, what should I reposition.