“You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.”

“Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow-creatures is amusing in itself.”

“There is only one you for all time. Fearlessly be yourself.”

“The hero was the sort of character you could feel yourself falling in love with, no matter how much you tried to convince yourself that he wasn't real”

“The only one that believes in you, is you. Don't lean on how others see you to find belief in yourself.”

“Then why don't you go and ---- yourself.”

“A novelist's characters must be with him as he lies down to sleep, and as he wakes from his dreams. He must learn to hate them and to love them.”