I think everything we do, on one level or another, as writers, most of our writing is informed by our world view.
My writing is a very authentic journey of discovery. I'm going out there to learn who I am. My readers, consequently, take the same journey as my protagonist.
I can't think of anything worse than calling Shakespeare 'highbrow,' because on the one hand, it's brilliant writing. But his plays were popular. People went to see them.
When I write in the studio, I tend to gravitate toward the ability to play really loud, aggressive, post-punk stuff, with big, heavy guitars and a big rock drum sound.
The hardest part of writing is the first draft, and the closer you get to your deadline, the messier your workspace becomes - but that's the same with any creative outlet.
I admired what my students were writing, but I think their improvement doesn't directly result from me but from being in a class, being with each other.
I notice that students, particularly for gay students, it's too easy to write about my last trick or something. It's not very interesting to the reader.
If you’re a writer, your first duty, a duty you owe to yourself and your readers, and to your writing itself, is to become wonderful. To become the best writer you can possibly be.
We're journalists, so our default position is we're not writing editorial. We're trying to bring information to readers, viewers, so that they can make up their own conclusions.
I try to write fun - though difficult and challenging - things for actors to do, because I know if they're having fun, they're going to give it everything they got.
If I make you read, then I'll keep quiet. If I make you think, then I'll keep reading. If I make you smile, then I'll keep writing.
I'm more interested in interpersonal relationships - between lovers families, siblings. That's why I write about how we treat each other.
It's hard to write new stuff when the songs you have written before are still changing and evolving. It would be like building something when the foundations there are not really solid.
I think some aspects of writing can be taught. Obviously, you can't teach vision or talent. But you can help with comfort.
With anything I do, it's hard to categorize it. With any project, I just go in and blindly start writing songs and then find out which way we want to go with it.
Every musician writes about past relationships. And other than that, I can promise you, I have very little in common with Taylor Swift.
I think I subconsciously put myself in these situations where the girlfriend isn't pleased with me. I'm useless as a boyfriend. That's how I managed to write all these songs.
All I ever really wanted to do was arouse souls through my writing and enjoy my journey to becoming one with myself and with the world.
With each book, in each place, I have to keep an ongoing map as I write because otherwise I don't know where I am.
I have to write because if I don't get something down then after a while I feel it's going to bang the side of my head off.
If I don't have a project going, I sit down and begin to write something - a character sketch, a monologue, a description of some sight, or even just a list of ideas.
