Len Wein

“If a story isn't working, I'm simply unable to finish it. That's what usually tells me something is wrong.”

“I would like immortality.”

“These days, it seems that if you're not already in place, you can't get there from here.”

“What makes a story is how well it manages to connect with the reader, the visceral effect it has.”

“Sometimes you're not even sure which of your stories were failures. There are things I've written that I thought were complete catastrophes when I finished with them that have gone on to generate some of my most positive feedback.”

“I had never really thought of myself as a writer; any writing I had done was just to give myself something to draw.”

“In general, shorter is better. If you can encapsulate your idea into a single captivating sentence, you're halfway home.”

“I try to find what makes even the worst, most despicable character sympathetic at his or her core.”

“It's all about who's where on the food chain. When I'm the story editor, I expect my writers to follow my vision. When I'm working for another editor, I'm obliged to follow their vision.”

“The most unrealistic thing I've ever read in comics is when some group of characters calls themselves the Brotherhood of Evil or the Masters of Evil. I don't believe any character believes their goals to be truly evil.”

“I became an art major, took every art class my school had to offer. In college, I majored in Advertising Art and Design.”

“Art is always in the eyes of the beholder. Only posterity has the right to point out our mistakes.”

“A writer writes. Period. No matter if someone is buying your work or not.”

“I've always thought of myself as an organic writer, rather than a cerebral one. I feel my way along as I go, hoping I'll get to the place I intend to reach.”

“You can read a dozen different textbooks or how-to manuals that will tell you the basic rules of what makes a story - a beginning, a middle, and an end.”

“I've had editors over the years who couldn't find a clue if it was stapled to their butt.”

“I've never sat down and thought about the difference between plot and theme. To me, that's never been important.”

“I try not to violate what came before me and to leave lots of wiggle room for those who will follow.”

“Unfortunately, there are writers whose only concern is how good they could make themselves look on a title.”

“I realized the only thing I owed my audience was my own judgment and my own best effort.”