I always thought books were just the canon, things I couldn't identify with. And then I was introduced to really amazing multicultural literature - it was all things I was trying to do unsuccessfully in my poetry. It really just… — 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
When I'm following what a character does in a book I don't have to think about my own life. Where I am. Why I'm… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share
My chest got this weird feeling, like when you stare into the eyes of a little baby and the baby looks back up at… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share
I guess I don't really know what I want to do, either. Sometimes I feel like a shook-up bottle of soda. Like, I have… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share
