A lot of people think that they are really cool because they don't outline. In my writing group, they would say, "I… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
The second book, which was probably more from a professional standpoint - when I read Junot Díaz's Drown, I was like, Oh… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
When I was young, I grew up in a family of working-class people. Not just my parents, but my extended family, as… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
Cormac McCarthy is my favorite author in the world. I love him so much. There's one book that informs me more than… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
The Color Purple really floored me. That book was just incredible because I loved the language. The biggest deal of that book… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
A lot of people ask me, 'Are you born a writer?' And I don't think it's necessarily true. I just think what… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
In all of my books, I really want to work with working-class people. My goal is to show the moments of grace… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
People always think there's this huge hundred-foot-high barrier that separates doing good from doing bad. But there's not. There's nothing. There's not… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
As an author, you go into the school, it gets written about in the paper. It sucks that your book was banned, but you… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
Whenever I teach writing I tell them to never revise as you go. Finish the first draft. This is my writing advice. I can't… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
When you first quit your regular job and you become a full-time writer, you are paralyzed with free time. You have so much free… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
I think the world sort of looks to the kids who have potential. These are the kids who are going to do something with… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
I think we all try to figure out ways to ignore the fact that life is about suffering. In the modern world, that's what… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
Growing up as a mixed-race kid myself, when you are in the middle of it and you're young...you don't think about it consciously. It's… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
A lot of people think that they are really cool because they don't outline. In my writing group, they would say, "I will never… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
The second book, which was probably more from a professional standpoint - when I read Junot Díaz's Drown, I was like, Oh my god,… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
When I was young, I grew up in a family of working-class people. Not just my parents, but my extended family, as well. — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
Once I got into college, I discovered literature - in particular, multicultural literature. I just started to understand the power of story and narrative,… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
The feeling it gave me was an odd combination of weightless self-pity and excitement. I understood my life was meaningless, and this knowledge freed… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
When I finish a book, I'll go to that file and look through them. And I'll say, these are three that really excite me… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
