I have to trick myself into writing a story - impose some arbitrary constraint to distract me from the constraints of my past habits or my fear that I don't have much to say.

I don't think virtue has a downside. I think human nature does.

When you write, you're supposed to go stand somewhere else for a while, see things from a perspective that's not in line with your own reflexive truths.

I've always hated quotation marks: they're ugly on the page and they classify the text for you, putting dialogue in one box and narration in another.

I think it's very hard to be sexually explicit and erotic - though there are writers, like K. M. Soehnlein, who are just brilliant at this.

If you cross-section anyone's life from one angle and then another, what constitutes goodness looks different each time. It's not an absolute.

You have to be able to play: this is spontaneous interaction, and it flexes all the creative muscles you need as a writer. And empathy is one of those muscles.

With a clear intention and a willing spirit, sooner or later we experience the joy and freedom that arises when we recognize our common humanity with others and see that real love excludes no one.

She ached: oh, how she ached. Her soul was like one big bruise.

I don't like to write any music to a script. Experience has taught me that's generally a waste of time.

For me the most important thing is to continue to work with the best people that I can find, and that will have me.

Your neighbor is the man who needs you.

Judges must beware of hard constructions and strained inferences, for there is no worse torture than that of laws.

We were always expected to see Quebec's side of things, but there was damned little reciprocity.

My mother said I would have more chances to become a tennis player than a football player.

My parents are pretty good about keeping me humble. They brought me up good.