“A good novel begins with a small question and ends with a bigger one.”

“It all adds up; never discount your efforts, because small efforts build big things. One word doesn't make a novel, but one word does begin a novel, and from that small beginning everything else follows. Even if it's just 'The', write something on that blank page.”

“Two questions form the foundation of all novels: "What if?" and "What next?" (A third question, "What now?", is one the author asks himself every 10 minutes or so; but it's more a cry than a question.) Every novel begins with the speculative question, What if "X" happened? That's how you start.”

“Whatever beginning goals you set for yourself, following through on them will build momentum and a sense of achievement and those small success will point the way to bigger ones”

“When does a novel begin? The question is almost as difficult to answer as the question, when does the human embryo become a person? ”

“The question isn't "is your novel good enough?" The question is: "Do you believe in it?”