What makes a story is how well it manages to connect with the reader, the visceral effect it has.
I'm a neurotic New York Jew by birth. Creating characters is second nature to me.
In general, shorter is better. If you can encapsulate your idea into a single captivating sentence, you're halfway home.
When I submitted samples, I had only written stories to give myself something to draw. I was told, "The art is good, but not quite professional yet. But, I like the writing." I've been a writer for almost a half a century. It's very cool.
I've never had to work out of the arts. I've always either been a writer or an editor, or something where I've made my living from doing what I love. You can't get any better than that.
A writer writes. Period. No matter if someone is buying your work or not.
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'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.
If a story isn't working, I'm simply unable to finish it. That's what usually tells me something is wrong.
I realized the only thing I owed my audience was my own judgment and my own best effort.
I think there's something inherently dishonest in trying to go back and mess with the past.
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.
Lord of the Rings, I think, is far and away the most brilliantly done stuff.
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.
I hate the crazy, neurotic characters beyond a certain point.
There is an ancient legend which warns that, should we ever learn our true origin, our universe will instantly be destroyed.
Never be embarrassed by the things you cannot do. Be embarrassed by the things you can do and don't do well.
There are very few of us, who reach my advanced age, who are still working in the business, as writers. As artists, people can hang out longer.
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.
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 always been the audience that I wanted to reach, so I write for myself.
I consider myself the luckiest man in the world. I have spent a lifetime doing what I love.
The bottom line always remains the same: What is the basic humanity of the character? How do I make them resonate with the reader?
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 true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else.
I became an art major, took every art class my school had to offer. In college, I majored in Advertising Art and Design.
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.
It all depends on which side of the desk you're sitting on.
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 try to find what makes even the worst, most despicable character sympathetic at his or her core.
These days, it seems that if you're not already in place, you can't get there from here.
I would like immortality.
I always wanted to fire rays out of my fingertips.
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.
I've never sat down and thought about the difference between plot and theme. To me, that's never been important.
Art is always in the eyes of the beholder. Only posterity has the right to point out our mistakes.
Unfortunately, there are writers whose only concern is how good they could make themselves look on a title.
When I got my first glimpse of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, my breath caught. In that single instant, he was Wolverine.
I try not to violate what came before me and to leave lots of wiggle room for those who will follow.
