the translator, a lonely sort of acrobat, becomes confused in a labyrinth of paradox, or climbs a pyramid of dependent clauses and has to invent a way down from it in his own language.

Do what you want to do, and don't worry if it's a little odd or doesn't fit the market.

Why don't you like the foods I like?" he asks sometimes. "Why don't you like the foods I make?" I answer.

If you think of something, do it. Plenty of people often think, “I’d like to do this, or that.

Like a tropical storm, I, too, may one day become ‘better organized.

There seemed to be three choices: to give up trying to love anyone, to stop being selfish, or to learn to love a person while continuing to be selfish.

My stories are sometimes closer to poems or meditations, but often there is at least a little narrative in them.

Art is not in some far-off place.

Work hard and meticulously. When in trouble, look closely at a text that is a good example of what you're trying to do. And be patient.

I'm a fierce editor! I don't edit out things that I began by saying, usually. The editing is on the micro level - a comma here, a word there.

I do see an interest in writing for Twitter. While publishers still do love the novel and people do still like to sink into one, the very quick form is appealing because of the pace of life.

Creativity requires openness and growth mind to new experiences and explore new possibilities.

The squeak of oarlocks comes over the lake waterA woman's shriek assaults the earWhile above, in the sky, inured to everything, The moon looks on with a mindless leer("The Unknown Lady")

Whether I'm being influenced by new music that I'm listening to, books I've read, my friends, or my faith, I'm learning all the time.

Accept certain inalienable truths.

Finding the medium that excites your imagination, that you love to play with and work in, is an important step to freeing your creative energies.

Worrying, obsessing, and controlling are illusions. They are tricks we play on ourselves.

One day the worlds male population will spontaneously combust because they've kept too much stuff in for too long.

A higher power is leading you; be led by the same. It knows what to do and how to do it.

Ugliness is superior to beauty because it lasts longer.

Look for companies that do not have a lot of debt.