Basically, all novelists should want to tell a story, and if they don't want to, they shouldn't be novelists. I think story-telling is important and underrated.
The most important thing is story-telling. It's as singular and old-fashioned as that.
Giving voice to marginalised characters is extremely important to me. I want to explore the pain of disenfranchisement, the social strata and boundaries we create and how to make them more permeable.
Winning or losing of the election is less important than strengthening the country.
The important thing is to take your time and not get stressed.
Kids who are poor often have families that have not really been kept informed about... how important it is to read to your child, to reduce stresses in their life, to use positive incentives and words.
When you have a stroke, you must talk slowly to be understood, and I've discovered that when I talk slowly, people listen. They think I'm going to say something important!
Strong female leads are important.
I just think that is so important to keep a strong support system, to keep yourself encouraged.
Being a strong woman is very important to me. But doing it all on my own is not.
I think it's important to be that strong woman and to follow your passions regardless of what your situation is.
If you're doing gags, I think it's important to have characters who are as strong-willed and impactful as possible.
I try to do as many stunts as they'll let me do. I think it's important for an audience to feel that the actor's really doing it.
I was the youngest child. I got to be myself and ask stupid questions because I was the youngest. It is so important to listen to the questions children have and reward them for the wondrous questions they ask.
One of the challenges for sub-Saharan Africa is that markets are of modest size. This makes regional integration important.
I am a Marine Corps veteran, but more importantly - or as important maybe - I'm the chairman of the Oversight Investigation Subcommittee and the House Veterans Affair Committee.
I try to not be self-conscious in my writing process. I think it's important to just be in your subconscious mind - at least when you're starting an idea.
Sometimes you get submerged by emotion. I think it's very important to express it - which doesn't necessarily mean hitting someone.
It's important, at least for me, that while we're entertaining, there's also something substantive to talk about.
My mother seemed to undermine so much of what I did, subtly belittling my choices and my activities in light of her greater, more important ones.
