And as a writer, one of the things that I've always been interested in doing is actually invading your comfort space. Because that's what we're supposed to do. Get under your skin, and make you react.

The most important things are the hardest things to say. They are the things you get ashamed of because words diminish your feelings - words shrink things that seem timeless when they are in your head to no more than living size when they are brought out.

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut.

And humor has always been a weapon. You want to get even on somebody? You want to attack somebody? Make fun of them.

For cool things to happen, you have to get out of your comfort zone.

I've always been really, really aware of my insecurities - really, really aware. I never developed that thick skin that keeps you from letting things get to you.