I write to reach eternity. - James Jones

When he finished packing, he walked out on to the third-floor porch of the barracks brushing the dust from his hands, a very neat and deceptively slim young man in the summer khakis that were still early morning fresh.

Colour makes a difference. Gender makes a difference. Ethnicity makes a difference. Acting as if they don't will create more problems than it will solve.

You have to really work at it to write. I guess there has to be talent first; but even with talent you still have to work at it, to write.