Imagination is so much more fertile than life.

I find that biographical material holds me back, hampers my creative process, cramps my imagination.

I must say that, on the whole, I prefer fiction to poetry.

How can you teach someone to be creative? You have to create yourself.

In fact, the very phrase "teaching creative writing" sounds to me oxymoronic. How can you teach someone to be creative?

It is true that I didn't write any poetry between 1995 and 2011. The reason for this was probably because I had stayed away from fiction for so long and couldn't tear myself away from it.

Except for the usual house chores, doing income tax, etc., I am free to write whenever I want.

That is one more reason why I write in English only right now. I prefer writing in the language I hear around me for the people by whom I am surrounded.

I think I view myself primarily as a fiction writer. Poetry is more of a "hobby," a time of rest from the hard work of writing fiction.

How you talk to yourself, in your head, determines how you feel about yourself, and determines the actions you take.

In New York I pretty much live in diners - I order French Fries, Diet Coke floats and lots of coffee.

What greater gift is there than to demonstrate you need not fear death?

I think Americans really need to start thinking globally. As resources become more dear, we will be pulled closer to the rest of the world anyway.

My intentions with any of my music is to keep it futuristic and updated and be experimental and try new things.

If I persist, if I continue to try, if I continue to charge forward, I will succeed!

I believe that, as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil.

I believe the American people are looking for someone to speak the truth.

It is perfectly consistent - and also true - to say that the world poverty problem today is smaller (relative to world population) than before and yet also a much graver injustice.