“Talent isn't enough. You need motivation-and persistence, too: what Steinbeck called a blend of faith and arrogance. When you're young, plain old poverty can be enough, along with an insatiable hunger for recognition. You have to have that feeling of "I'll show them." If you don't have it, don't become a writer”

“Don't listen when they scoffThat you are too old and I am young,For I am old enough to know betterAnd you are young enough not to care.”

“gentlemen you don't have enough talent to win on talent alone”

“If you can spend enough time playing other people, you don't have to think too much about your own character motivations.”

“If you don't feel you are possibly on the edge of humiliating yourself, of losing control of the whole thing, then what you're doing probably isn't very vital. If you don't feel that you are writing somewhat over your head, why do it? If you don't have some doubt of your authority to tell this story, then you're not trying to tell enough.”

“What you don't have you don't need it nowWhat you don't know you can feel it somehowWhat you don't have you don't need it nowDon't need it nowIt was a beautiful day.”