When you write, you take the ball and you hold it up to the light and you turn it slowly, and let people draw their own conclusions. And try to bring empathy to all sides of the equation.

If you are writing any book about the end of the world, what you are really writing about is what's worth saving about it.

Behind every writer stands a very large bookshelf.

My inventing time is all done under the influence of aerobic exercise. Basically, I do all my thinking while I run.

I grew up during the Cold War, when everything seemed very tenuous. For many years, right up until the fall of the Berlin Wall, I had vivid nightmares of nuclear apocalypse.

We live, we die. Somewhere along the way, if we're lucky, we may find someone to help lighten the load.

This ravishing world. This achingly bittersweet, ravishing world.

I have any number of completely dark obsessions and fascinations, and none of this was present in my profile or my growing profile as a writer.

What strange places our lives can carry us to, what dark passages.

My theory of characterization is basically this: Put some dirt on a hero, and put some sunshine on the villain, one brush stroke of beauty on the villain.

My rule has always been, write the next part of the book that you seem to know well. So I won't necessarily write chapter two after chapter one.

To sulk is to create a noise

To be a success, dare to go beyond your fear and doubts.

No organization should be allowed near disaster unless they are willing to cooperate with some level of established leadership.

There has to be chemistry in a duet, but if you go beyond the point of friendship and attraction, you lose something.

The dog that trots about finds a bone.

With various readings stored his empty skull, Learn'd without sense, and venerably dull.

Winter is dead; spring is crazy; summer is cheerful and autumn is wise!

Don't hang onto anything too tightly-all things must change and you have to allow room for them to grow and blossom.

I remember the horror story that I told myself over and over again. I'm totally alone in my body. I'm totally alone in my head and nobody will ever see through my eyes. I'm just completely alone.

Improv is... gods creating worlds.