And so I say to you:

IF YOU WANT TO PUT BIGFOOT, GNOMES AND CAPTAIN KANGAROO IN YOUR MG NOVEL, YOU CAN DO THAT–YOU’RE A WRITER!

IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE OUT THE COMMAS AND SKIP QUOTATION MARKS AND MAKE UP A NEW LANGUAGE, YOU CAN DO THAT–YOU’RE A WRITER!

AND IF YOU WANT TO WIN A NEWBERY AWARD OR THE MICHAEL L. PRINTZ AWARD OR THE FREAKIN’ PULITZER PRIZE FOR LITERATURE, YOU CAN DO THAT, TOO!

Now get out there and write like you mean it.