I was at the vice president's Christmas party. I thought that his speech was spectacular and I knew that it was a very emotional and difficult thing for him to do but I admonished him for not waiting just one more stinking day.

Women are much more sensitive. We know that emotionally but their organs respond to the same degree.

Black women sharing close ties with each other politically or emotionally are not the enemies of Black men.

Spend time reflecting on your emotional and physical existence and how that applies to the voice. You have to apply that wisdom and experience when you sing - it's what comes through.

A lot of people think I'm that guy in 'Betsy's Wedding' but I'm not. What it is for me is that on some level I connect with the character emotionally.

Reclaiming the word 'fat' was the most empowering step in my progress. I stopped using it for insult or degradation and instead replaced it with truth because the truth is that I am fat and that's ok. So now when someone calls me fat I agree whereas before I would get embarrassed and emotional.

For a creative writer possession of the 'truth' is less important than emotional sincerity.

Your political reputation affects how likely allies are to trust you and what kind of deals they'll offer at the negotiating table. There's also some emotional response in there so factions do bear grudges. Just like the real thing.

Know that there is so much more to you than your body. It's not just about perfecting the steps you must trust your instincts to tell deep emotional stories through the steps that you are performing.

In my work you often get an abrupt shift in time a jolt. But the emotional logic will take the reader on. I hope. I trust. After all our memories do not work with any sequential logic.