“You don't write because someone sets assignments! You write because you need to write, or because you hope someone will listen or because writing will mend something broken inside you or bring something back to life.”

“You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say.”

“Remember, it's the winners write the history books, and the losers get the leavings.”

“The process of writing is a little like madness, a kind of possession not altogether benign.”

“I don't see how you can write anything of value if you don't offend someone.”

“You must be unintimidated by your own thoughts because if you write with someone looking over you shoulder, you'll never write.”

“Write, if you must, because you feel like writing, never because you feel you ought to write.”