“You cherry-pick events that are relevant to the story question and construct a gauntlet of challenge (read: the plot) that will force the protagonist to put his money where his mouth is. Think baptism by ever-escalating fire.”

“Each thing you add to your story is a drop of paint falling into clear water; it spreads through and colors everything.”

“Before there were books, we read each other.”

“If I ask you to think about something, you can decide not to. But if I make you feel something? Now I have your attention.”

“Stories not only give us a much needed practice on figuring out what makes people tick, they give us insight into how we tick.”

“...she taught me how to ride the Dragon Coaster and what to do when you're flung into the mouth of whatever it is you think will kill you. Throw up your arms and laugh until you come out the other side.”

“A boy needs a father to show him how to be in the world. He needs to be given swagger, taught how to read a map so that he can recognize the roads that lead to life and the paths that lead to death, how to know what love requires, and where to find steel in the heart when life makes demands on us that are greater than we think we can endure.”