Don't ever let the other stuff get in the way of your inherent skills as a kick-butt storyteller. Move the reader, make them happy and sad and excited and scared. Make them stare into space after they've put the book down, thinking about the tale that's become a part of them.Collection: Sad
I really love middle-grade. Middle-grade books have a little more of a magical, light-hearted feel. You can be a little bit more quirky, you can have a little more humor. It doesn't get so dark and deep.Collection: Humor
You'll work hard to create characters that are compelling and unforgettable. But in the end, it's the story that matters.
I don't think anything's more rewarding than hearing that you've helped someone gain a love of reading.
In my early writing, all of my characters were exactly the same person. They all spoke the same, made the same types of jokes, reacted the same, etc. I think they were all just me in disguise.
Down the road a bit, I would like to write a couple of stand-alone adult novels, especially in the horror genre. I've got lots of things up my sleeve.
I'm inspired by almost everything I come across in life, and one way or another they find themselves sneaking into my stories.
When I'm feeling a little empty in the head, I like to go see movies or read to loosen things up there.
I think Judy Blume, Stephen King, and Dean Koontz are the three authors responsible for my being where I am today. I owe them a lot.
To practice - write each and every day if possible - then try to attend professional writer's conferences where you can learn your craft, get to know fellow writers, and meet editors and agents.
I just...feel like I need to save everyone. To redeem myself.Collection: Needs
You are the shuckiest shuck faced shuck in the world!Collection: Funny
I do love ponies. Wish I could eat one right now.Collection: Wish
I don't think there is a right or wrong anymore. Only horrible and not-quite-so-horrible.Collection: Thinking
When it comes to individual destiny, there is no power greater in the universe then the conviction of the human soul to make a choice.Collection: Destiny
I've been shucked and gone to heaven.Collection: Heaven
Oh, I'm good. Seriously, after all these years, you'd think I would stop amazing myself. But here I am, still doing it.Collection: Thinking
Just follow me and run like your life depends on it. Because it does.Collection: Running
Sometimes they do things to make me do the opposite of what they think, I think, they think, I am going to do.Collection: Thinking
Frozen by fear. Not able to move. Your mind screamingCollection: Moving
Kill me. If you’ve ever been my friend, kill me.Collection: Newts
I think we should take a break, fill our little tummies and drink up.Collection: Thinking
No. I kind of accepted it, in a way. That saving you was worth losing what we might've had.Collection: Saving
KILL ME!" And then Newt's eyes cleared, as if he'd gained one last trembling gasp of sanity, and his voice softened. "Please, Tommy. Please." With his heart falling into a black abyss, Thomas pulled the trigger.Collection: Fall
It's kind of hard to ask a dead guy what he did wrong.Collection: Guy
What would I do without you? I'd die of stress and depression before nature killed me.Collection: Stress
Just go with it', he thought. 'You won't figure out anything if you give in to fear'.Collection: Giving
I don't give a crap if you're a Tangent or a really smart llama. You're my friend and that's all that mattersCollection: Smart
You get lazy, you get sad. Start givin' up. Plain and simple.Collection: Simple
Thomas had a depressing - and scary - thought. 'Am I . . . replacing someone? Did somebody get killed?' Minho shook his head. 'No, we're just training you - someone'll want a break. Don't worry, it's been a while since a Runner was killed.' For some reason that last statement worried Thomas, though he hoped it didn't show on his face.Collection: Depressing
If you're going to decipher a hidden code from a complex set of different mazes, I'm pretty sure you need a girl's brain running the show.Collection: Girl
I watched as that kid died. In his last few seconds there was pure terror in his eyes. You can't do that. You can't do that to a person. I don't care what anybody tells me, I don't care how many people go crazy and die, I don't care if the whole shuck human race ends. Even if that was the only thing that had to happen to find the cure, I'd still be against it.Collection: Crazy
Can you do that?” Thomas asked. “Huh?” “Kill someone three times.” “I’d figure out a way.Collection: Three
She smiled for the first time, and he almost had to look away, as if something that nice didn’t belong in such a glum and gray place, as if he had no right to look at her expression.Collection: Nice
Tomorrow," Minho added. "Somehow, some way.Collection: Way
Anybody else wanna pee their pants and cry for mommy?Collection: Pants
Minho looked at Thomas, a serious expression on his face. "If I don't see you on the other side," he said in a sappy voice, "remember that I love you.Collection: Love You
Though he’d never know for sure what had happened to them, his mind was super talented at imagining the absolute worst.Collection: Mind
She paused. That's just my way of saying I would've killed you if you'd died.Collection: Way
...You'd think the little part about them supposedly killing us would be the attention getter.Collection: Thinking
Such a display of death - how could it be considered a victory?Collection: Victory
Never give up, laugh a lot. Be good to others.Collection: Giving Up
It was you and me, Tom. We did this to them. To us.Collection: Maze Runner
We were lining up and counting off nice and easy till you came stumbling through like a doped-up bull,' Minho responded.Collection: Nice
Ah, my Knight in Shining Armor. What, you don't think I can fend for myself?Collection: Thinking
Rose took my nose, I suppose,” he repeated; the bubble of phlegm in his throat made a disgusting crackle. “And it really blows.Collection: Blow