Were there stories I wrote along the way that were terrible clinkers? God, yes. But they were all a product of their time, and I did the best I could.

I hate the crazy, neurotic characters beyond a certain point.

I'm a neurotic New York Jew by birth. Creating characters is second nature to me.

I had never really thought of myself as a writer; any writing I had done was just to give myself something to draw.

I've never sat down and thought about the difference between plot and theme. To me, that's never been important.

I was a very sickly kid. While I was in the hospital at age 7, my Dad brought me a stack of comic books to keep me occupied. I was hooked.

In these litigious times, if you're a beginner, it's becoming harder and harder to get your work to the people who might actually be able to hire you.

A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else.

When I'm my own editor, there's very little difference between the first draft and the final. I write what feels right to begin with. I rarely make any major changes.

Sometimes you're not even sure which of your stories were failures. There are things I've written that I thought were complete catastrophes when I finished with them that have gone on to generate some of my most positive feedback.

A writer writes. Period. No matter if someone is buying your work or not.

I've had editors over the years who couldn't find a clue if it was stapled to their butt.

Were there stories I wrote along the way that were terrible clinkers? God, yes. But they were all a product of their time, and I did the best I could.

I think there's something inherently dishonest in trying to go back and mess with the past.

People who were more concerned with themselves and looking good to their readers then they were with the characters sacrificed a series for the sake of a story.

I would like immortality.

When I got my first glimpse of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, my breath caught. In that single instant, he was Wolverine.

There is an ancient legend which warns that, should we ever learn our true origin, our universe will instantly be destroyed.

I try not to violate what came before me and to leave lots of wiggle room for those who will follow.

I try to find what makes even the worst, most despicable character sympathetic at his or her core.

Lord of the Rings, I think, is far and away the most brilliantly done stuff.

Art is always in the eyes of the beholder. Only posterity has the right to point out our mistakes.

I always wanted to fire rays out of my fingertips.

Unfortunately, there are writers whose only concern is how good they could make themselves look on a title.

What makes a story is how well it manages to connect with the reader, the visceral effect it has.

It's all about who's where on the food chain. When I'm the story editor, I expect my writers to follow my vision. When I'm working for another editor, I'm obliged to follow their vision.

The bottom line always remains the same: What is the basic humanity of the character? How do I make them resonate with the reader?

It all depends on which side of the desk you're sitting on.

When someone writes to tell me something I've written made them laugh or cry, I've done my job and done it well. The rest is all semantics.

In general, shorter is better. If you can encapsulate your idea into a single captivating sentence, you're halfway home.

You can read a dozen different textbooks or how-to manuals that will tell you the basic rules of what makes a story - a beginning, a middle, and an end.

I've always thought of myself as an organic writer, rather than a cerebral one. I feel my way along as I go, hoping I'll get to the place I intend to reach.

I became an art major, took every art class my school had to offer. In college, I majored in Advertising Art and Design.

If a story isn't working, I'm simply unable to finish it. That's what usually tells me something is wrong.

The most unrealistic thing I've ever read in comics is when some group of characters calls themselves the Brotherhood of Evil or the Masters of Evil. I don't believe any character believes their goals to be truly evil.

I realized the only thing I owed my audience was my own judgment and my own best effort.

These days, it seems that if you're not already in place, you can't get there from here.

A friend is someone who is there for you when hed rather be anywhere else.

Songwriting is my gift from God.

This is God's work. Therefore it must be triumphant. There is no place for misgiving or despondency.

Many are needed to plant and water what has been planted now that the faith has spread so far and there are so many people... No matter who plants or waters, God gives no harvest unless what is planted is the faith of Peter and unless he agrees to his teachings.

God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.

I frankly don't care if you agree with my stand on abortion. I take that stand because no other stand is consistent with decent principles, and no other standard is consistent with the will of God.

The robe of flesh wears thin, and with the years God shines through all things.

The good poet sticks to his real loves, those within the realm of possibility. He never tries to hold hands with God or the human race.

Humanity is the sin of God.

Fight the good fight of faith, and God will give you spiritual mercies.

We are all gifted, but we have to discover the gift, uncover the gift, nurture and develop the gift and use it for the Glory of God and for the liberation struggle of our people.

This subsistence, or manner of being of God is his one essence so far as it has personal properties.