But here's the thing: what you do as a screenwriter is you sell your copyright. As a novelist, as a poet, as a playwright, you maintain your copyright.

I did write a couple of original screenplays, but I'd rather write plays.

But here's the thing: what you do as a screenwriter is you sell your copyright. As a novelist, as a poet, as a playwright, you maintain your copyright.

Then, when I was a senior in high school, I was kind of bereft and she put me in an acting class.

It's called Sisters of the Winter Madrigal. It was interesting for me to see it done after so many years; because I wrote it and I didn't realize what a rage I was in.

I love writing for the screen.

Somehow I got to be one of five or six actors that the directors would use as guinea pigs at this directing colloquium, where people pay to listen to and watch the directors direct.

I was just restless with being in school; so I went out to Los Angeles.

What I loved about the acting class was that you got to think all day long about a person that wasn't you, and figure out why they were sad and what they wanted, what they dreamed.

Then I went off to Southern Methodist University in Dallas. They had a really wonderful theatre department.

My fault now is making my plays too short.

I tried to start a theatre in LA and failed miserably, but I was probably not meant to raise money.

The next thing I wrote was in a writing class at night school. It was about a poor woman who worked at a dime store and who was all alone for Christmas in Laurel, Mississippi.

I just loved being divorced from my own wretchedness.

It was kind of enlightening to become a playwright.

In movement class, you had to lie on the floor and get your alignment in to pass the class.

The most glorious thing about working in the collaborative art is when you have somebody like Susan Kingsley or Kathy Bates who are better than your play.

You can't just go in there and open your mouth until the cast and director feel comfortable with you.

Part of that is that New York has proved to be too much fun for me to live and work; I love New York so much.

Plays are so much more special if they've never ever had a production, but I think you can really work on a play and make it better with each production.

That was always my inclination, to start on a new play before the other one gets done, because at least you'll have something to go back to if that play gets trashed.

Some really good things kind of swing both ways and I like to see people that can swing really, really, really sad and horrible and terrible and really, really, really beautiful and funny.

My first few plays took place in the South and even The Lucky Spot was in the thirties but in Louisiana.

It's really interesting that whenever you do something that is so out of character, like having an emotional outburst, that you don't get in trouble.

I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, really in suburbia, so my mother was in community theatre plays.

The impetus behind going to graduate school was a year after graduating from college spent in Dallas working at the dog food factory and Bank America and not having met success in my chosen field, which at that point was being an actress.

I'm very into the first production of the show.

We are well aware of the task ahead of us in what will be a very difficult match but which we all dream of playing.

The bonds we create in the household are the most important and lasting. Savor them; they're sacred.

My mum always told me I was precious, while my dad always told me I was worthless. I think that's a good grounding for a balanced life.

When cultural change succeeds it succeeds because its so embedded in what we do that we dont have to think about.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

After graduation, I was floundering in L.A., doing stand-up comedy and working in a shoe store in the Valley.

Like so many new moms, I felt anxiety over the impending birth of my daughter. However, most of the anxiety I felt was around the idea of raising a child. I wasn't focused on potential risks to my health or hers that could occur during the actual birth.

Clarity and peace of mind are powerful tools. Achieving either and both is only possible when we allow ourselves to see life in all its variance.

I came from a tough neighborhood. I used to be a 'dirty Greek.'

As frost to the bud and blight to the blossom even such is self interest to friendship for confidence cannot dwell where selfishness is porter at the gate.

The mildest, drowsiest sister has been known to turn tiger if her sibling is in trouble

The dripping blood our only drinkThe bloody flesh our only foodIn spite of which we like to thinkThat we are sound substantial flesh and blood Again in spite of that we call this Friday good.

I think money is essential to happiness and right now I wouldn't want to be anyone other than Wilbur Smith - I've had a fantastic life, rewarded far more heavily than I deserve. Maybe I'd like to be J. K. Rowling, but I'll settle for second best.

I should never impose an image forever. I like how ephemeral it can be.

War hath no fury like a non-combatant.

Remember, no one decides who they're going to vote for based on the vice president. I mean that literally.

The essence of style is a simple way of saying something complex.

'Cold Case Files' and similar shows do bang up business, which points to a certain thirst for details in the viewership, but it seems like all the news chat shows continue to force the myth that Americans can't stand detail and have no interest in an idea that can't fit on a bumper sticker.

I'm not here to try and replace anyone or compete with anyone.

You may debate whether the Disney heroines fit the feminist standard, but they don't live in a democracy. Remember, they're princesses.

Look for the rainbow in every storm fly like an angel good bye my friend. I know youre gone you said youre gone but I can still feel you here.

Babies got it going on!