I think Santa Claus is, by and large, quite beneficial, for when the child is finally allowed -- or forced -- to recognize the nonexistence of Santa Claus, then the child is able to go through the vital intellectual process of reconstructing reality in light of new evidence, complete with back-forming new stories to account for past events. This prepares the child for many other disillusionments and gives her vital and well-supported experience in maintaining her grip on reality independent of the stories told to her at any given time.
In creating the strange milieu in which your story takes place, you must first understand as well as you possibly can the familiar milieu in which your own life is taking place. Until you have examined and comprehended the world around you, you can't possibly create a complex and believable imaginary world.
Unemployment is capitalism's way of getting you to plant a garden.
ORSON SCOTT CARD, Homebody
You grow a whole lot more as a writer by getting old stories out of the house and letting new ones come in and live with you until they grow up and are ready to go. Don't let the old ones stay there and grow fat and cranky and eat all the food out of the refrigerator. You have dozens of generations of stories inside you, but the only way to make room for the new ones is to write the old ones and mail them off.
At some point, every science fiction and fantasy story must challenge the reader's experience and learning. That's much of the reason why the genre is so open to experimentation and innovation that other genres reject--strangeness is our bread and butter. Spread it thick or slice it thin, it's still our staff of life.
Take what pleasure you can in the interstices of your work, but your work is first, learning first, winning is everything because without it there is nothing.
ORSON SCOTT CARD, Ender's Game
In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. I think it’s impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves.
ORSON SCOTT CARD, Ender's Game
Treat a man as if he had a fine reputation to protect, and he will usually endeavor to deserve it.
ORSON SCOTT CARD, Pathfinder
One mind can think only of its own questions; it rarely surprises itself.
ORSON SCOTT CARD, Ender's Shadow
Order and disorder ... they each have their beauty.
ORSON SCOTT CARD, Speaker for the Dead
When you really know somebody you can't hate them. Or maybe it's just that you can't really know them until you stop hating them.
ORSON SCOTT CARD, Speaker for the Dead
Personal affection is a luxury you can have only after all your enemies are eliminated. Until then, everyone you love is a hostage, sapping your courage and corrupting your judgment.
