Shannon Hale
But, how do you know if an ending is truly good for the characters unless you've traveled with them through every page?Collection: Character
...all things speak, in their way, don't they?Collection: Way
Writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.Collection: Writing
I think the only way to get through this life is laughing hard and constantly, mostly at myself.Collection: Thinking
The rewrites are a struggle right now. Sometimes I wish writing a book could just be easy for me at last. But when I think about it practically, I am glad it's a struggle. I am (as usual) attempting to write a book that's too hard for me. I'm telling a story I'm not smart enough to tell. The risk of failure is huge. But I prefer it this way. I'm forced to learn, forced to smarten myself up, forced to wrestle. And if it works, then I'll have written something that is better than I am.Collection: Smart
Many times I have learned that, you never judge a book by its cover. Like people, it is the inside that counts.Collection: Book
Even the jerks earn some of our affection. We can be glad they're gone and yet still mourn the good parts.Collection: Divorce
... If we don't tell strange stories, when something strange happens we won't believe it.Collection: Believe
Look no farther than your hand, Make a choice and take a stand.Collection: Hands
Mama used to say, you have to know someone a thousand days before you can glimpse her soul.Collection: Wisdom
You are my butterfly and refuse to set you free.Collection: Freedom
I do like the world quite a lot.Collection: World
You, what are you? The brat of lucky parents who were related to a childless king. There is no such thing as royal blood. I believe we are what we make ourselves, and as such, you, Crown Princess, are nothing.Collection: Kings
The book smelled dusty and old but also carried a sweet tang, a hint of something inviting. She opened to the first page and started to read, pronouncing the words in a reverent whisper.Collection: Sweet
I, Geric-Sinath of Gerhard, declare that you're beautiful and you're perfect and I'll slay any man who tries to take you from my side. Goose girl, may I kiss you?Collection: Beautiful
Truth is when your mind and your gut agree.Collection: Mind
My ma says a rock lasts forever, but people don’t, and that’s what makes them more precious.Collection: Rocks
Being a writer is a good, good thing.Collection: Good Things
I keep thinking about a tale my nurse used to read to me about a bird whose wings are pinned to the ground. In the end, when he finally frees himself, he flies so high he becomes a star. My nurse said the story was about how we all have something that keeps us down.Collection: Stars
A little snark, properly directed, can change the world.Collection: World
All I've ever wanted was to be near you.Collection: Romantic
For Colin Firth: You're a really great guy, but I'm married, so I think we should just be friends.Collection: Thinking
Throwing herself into learning helped Miri ignore the painful chill of solitude around her.Collection: Inspirational
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a thirty-something woman in possession of a satisfying career and fabulous hairdo must be in want of very littleCollection: Careers
As a general rule, writing is very inconvenient.Collection: Writing
What are you doing?" "Ya!" said Jane, whirling around, her hands held up menacingly. It was Mr. Nobley with coat, hat, and cane, watching her with wide eyes. Jane took several quick (but oh so casual) steps away from Martin's window. "Um, did I just say, 'Ya'?" "You just said 'Ya,'" he confirmed. "If I am not mistaken, it was a battle cry, warning that you were about to attack me. I, uh..." She stopped to laugh. "I wasn't aware until this precise and awkward moment that when startled in a startled in a strange place, my instincts would have me pretend to be a ninja.Collection: Eye
If you're listening Big Brother, I refuse to be Fanny Price.Collection: Brother
This morning, Tegus welcomed me again with an arm clasp and cheek touch. I wasn't startled this time, and I breathed in at his neck. How can I describe the scent of his skin? He smells something like cinnamon-- brown and dry and sweet and warm. Ancestors, is it wrong for me to imagine laying my head on his chest and closing my eyes and breathing in his smell?Collection: Sweet
He nodded. "And if I don't make you feel like the most beautiful woman in the world every day of your life, then I don't deserve to be near you.Collection: Beautiful
There was a burst of laughter so sudden Miri jumped to her feet in alarm. Bena and Liana had pushed Peder out of the bed and onto the floor. He in turn leaped on Liana's bed, clinging to it and laughing as the girls tugged at his ankles. "So, are you two betrothed?" Katar asked. "No," Miri said shortly "Ohh." Karter smirked, one eyebrow raised, and she looked altogether more like her old self. "It appears I stumbled upon a topic of conversation even more dangerous than revolution.Collection: Girl
Your head will be fine,” said Miri. “It’s your neck you should worry about.Collection: Worry
Razo knew he was best at nothing, except maybe cramming two cherries into a single nostril.Collection: Two
But when she turned her back to the lights, she saw that the night was so dark...She could not see the stars. The world felt as high as the depthless night sky and deeper than she could know. She understood, suddenly and keenly, that she was too small to run away, and she sat on the damp ground and cried.Collection: Running
Make haste” Jane added, just because she always wanted to say that.Collection: Haste
I know they are naught things, but I devour novels.” (p. 57).Collection: Novel
Her smile was peculiar - it made her nose wrinkle, not as though she smelled something unpleasant, but more that she was so amused, her whole face wanted to be a part of the smile.Collection: Wrinkles
No one had ever called her wild before. She wanted to be wild now, for him. Wild seemed more enticing then a bowl of berries.Collection: Berries
Miss Hayes, have you stopped to consider that you might have this all backward? That in fact you are my fantasy?Collection: Missing
The three girls were sitting and lying beside her, holding one another, weeping, their arms and legs and hair tangled like the roots of close trees, sobs shaking them like leaves in a high wind.Collection: Girl
What? Don't British women know how to use their knees?Collection: Knees
His brothers could tease him about his height or the number of scars he was collecting on his body. He could take the joke when they said he would die having never won a fair wrestling match. But the topic of Bettin still smarted too much. He'd imagined being with her always. Now when he closed his eyes, he had trouble imagining anything else.Collection: Brother
How could you miss it? Just the sound of her voice makes my chest feel tight, my face gets hot and my mouth goes dry whenever she's near. It's getting so bad, all I have to do is see her and I'm already thinking, 'What does she want? What can I do for her?' She's got some power over me, there's no question, and what else could it be? ~RazoCollection: Thinking
...'Goose girl, may I kiss you?' She answered by... kissing him first.Collection: Girl
Finn leaped from his horse to greet Enna, and she entwined herself into him, their arms around each other, their faces close. Thoug they did not kiss, Rin thought that the way they looked at each other was even more intimate. 'Let's get married,' Enna was saying with yearning in her voice. 'Please, let's get married right now.' Finn put his face into her neck and whispered something that made her hum.Collection: Horse
... fantasy is not practice for what is real—fantasy is the opiate of women.Collection: Real
Get back in my cot, girl," said Gilsa. "You're sickly." No, I'm not," said Ani. Oh, no? Well, maybe stubbornness is a sickness, did you ever think of that?Collection: Girl
I'm sorry Finn. I'm a wooden-headed dummy.' Don't be so hard on yourself,' said Finn. 'You're just a straw-brained scarecrow.Collection: Sorry
I'm Razo, a member of Bayern's Own," he said, stopping himself from adding "Loafing is just a hobby of mine." "Bayern's Own? But you're a child." Razo looked up to the sky. "I'm not a child, I'm just short.Collection: Children
He did a very good impression of a stone column.Collection: Stones
What should I say? That I like him so much it hurts?Collection: Hurt