What other grown-up gets told how to do their job so often as a writer?

Hope is like one of those orchids that grows around toxic waste: lovely in itself - and an assertion, if you like, of indefatigable good - but a sure sign that something nasty lies underneath.

As writers go, I have a skin of average thickness. I am pleased by a good review, disappointed by a bad. None of it penetrates far enough to influence the thing I write next.

That's writing for you: when you make space for passion, it doesn't turn up.

How can there be so many mothers in the world but so little sense of what it might be to become one?

The creativity of childhood was often surrendered amid feelings of unworthiness. So the idea that ­others are demanding to be given it back - to be "taught" - is disturbing.

Childhood, after all, is not an ending, but rather a state full of potent curiosity.

Even if they knew the truth of their own feelings, most mothers would be socially and emotionally incapable of revealing it.

Honest criticism, I suppose, has its place. But honest writing is infinitely more valuable.

Hope is one of those no-win-no-fee things, and although it needs some encouragement to survive, its existence doesn't necessarily prove anything.

People are least aware of others when demonstrating their own power over them.

Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance toward the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point.

The funnel of my family’s salvation must continue narrowing towards the gallows. That journey cannot begin at the parted tips of another woman’s toes

The battle of being mortal is the battle to maintain the integrity of one's life.

We are using missile defense to protect our civilians, and they're using their civilians to protect their missiles.

I'm completely changing my diet. My nutritionist recommends I must now stop eating food I have already eliminated.

Fantasies are real. They have effects on your soul, even though, as I was too young to really step forward.

I'm quite good at leaning against a bar.

When you adapt a book, you really have to cut it to the essence.

Ever since I was a little kid I was obsessed with films, and I always wanted to make them

I throw out compliments to strangers all the time, because I would like it back at me, and do unto others.