Writing is an extreme privilege but it's also a gift. It's a gift to yourself and it's a gift of giving a story to someone.
My mother was an avid reader...She loved books about romance. Books that took place in faraway places and times. Stories with costumes...
You always hear these stories of people who grew up in Hollywood, and they're like, 'We lost our childhood.' But I was very fortunate.
I don't see myself only as a Somali character. I think of myself as an actor, and if the job fits me and I like the story, I will go for it.
If you think of the typical Herbalife distributor and their level of sophistication, to this day I still don't understand the marketing plan - true story.
Steve and I saw eye to eye on the story and I got the part, but I think in the beginning it was due to my brother's instigation. So I owe him for that.
And that's why any of my picture books exist: They all seem to be built backwards from a simple, emotionally optimistic story beat.
I'm not a natural story-teller. Put a keyboard in front of me and I'm fine, but stand me up in front of an audience and I'm actually quite shy and reserved.
There are times my stories become - what I feel - not only accessible to hearing me on television, but they make wonderful reading.
A mathematical proof is beautiful, but when you're finished, it's really only about one thing. A story can be about many things.
We all know the stories about the Human Rights Act... about the illegal immigrant who cannot be deported because, and I am not making this up, he had a pet cat.
Decades of research have shown that most happy families communicate effectively. But talking doesn't mean simply 'talking through problems,' as important as that is. Talking also means telling a positive story about yourselves.
That something extra, I believe, is a certain humanity that comes from upbeat and positive human interest letters and success stories. Advertisers like to be associated with those qualities.
I always had this non-stop drive. I had to keep sending stories out and every once in awhile I'd get something accepted or get the little trickle of positive feedback.
Exercise your purchasing power as a consumer, volunteer and bring joy to those in need, and share your experiences, tell your stories, and inspire others along the way.
Artists and writers have to deal with the element that makes the real real and the dream real while you are dreaming it. That's where stories and poems get their power.
The story of Jesus is very fascinating. It still has such a tremendous power, even after 2,000 years! We don't really know if he existed as a historical figure.
I see lots of cycles, for sure. There's the whole post-Star Wars era, but I don't think it's the whole story.
Most people do a good deal of whatever they do motivated by love. For me, few stories are truly complete without it.
We are now in a position to determine just what sort of science fiction story this really is.
I'm really looking forward to developing just really fun, complex, interesting stories about people who happen to be black.
