There was a time before I felt I was a real writer, when I was a yarn spinner and I just wanted to tell story until it was over. But then there came a time where I was like, 'No, I want to understand something through writing this that I might have not understood before. I want people to come away with something to think about.'

I am not a fan of referencing your own work when it's in a different universe than what you're doing. That, to me, is a wink at the audience, and winking isn't actually cool when you're not, like, 10.

That's the great thing about 'The West Wing:' you really felt like you were in the thick of it.

You know, the thing that I do to waste time is think of things I want to make. That's how my mind is employed.

I eat 'The Walking Dead' like its made of brains. Can't even watch the show, I love the book so much.