I beat a story to within an inch of its life - that's when I know its done. Not before, not after.

Actually, you’re not famous at all. Maybe you’ll get some traction after you’re dead?

I revise and revise and revise. I'm not even sure "revise" is the right word. I work a story almost to death before it's done.

I think anything we do - eating, walking down the street, online shopping - gives you another perspective on writing stories.

I sometimes wonder if our memories are a myth. We think we remember, but we are remembering the story and not the actual event?

I agree with the Lev Tolstoy quote completely, but I also feel like there's more to it. What is a happy family and an unhappy family? We're probably both of those things at the same time.

A stellar, fully-realized collection of stories... grounded, wonderfully, in the river valleys of western Maine. You come away not only understanding a place but the soul of its people.

I've spent a lot of time in prisons, first doing legal work and later, teaching.

If a novel or a story works, you don't stop thinking about it; it doesn't truly end.

I have a friend who teaches yoga (or is it pilates?), and she said that I don't seem to live in the moment. And I said, "Exactly!" I'd go nuts if I lived in the moment.

I think some writers should wait for something to say.

I want to be tantric with you.

It really was amazing, thought Mindy, the way modern electronics made it so easy to ignore those people who were physically so close.

The central theme of the novel is that they were glad to see each other.

Unless you see your nature, all this talk about cause & effect is nonsense. Buddhas don't practice nonsense.

Happiness will depend on what each of us does with what each has, what we learn from what we do, and what we do thereafter.

Acting is not glamorous. It's not. Anybody who wants to get into acting for the glamour is in for a hard time.

I'll drink your champagne. I'll drink every drop of it, I don't care if it kills me.

Nothing brings fear to my heart more than a floating point number.

Ideas without action are worthless.

Why should anybody want to save the human race, or damn it either? Does God want its society? Does Satan?