How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Perhaps I can continue to aid you as you write more. But not be distressed. I will not require that my name is on the cover. You may pretend that it is only yours. (14.15)
This is a super meta quote because guess what? Alex's name is not on the cover of this novel. (Also, for someone who claims to know little about writing, Alex is really good at knowing how this business works.)
Quote #8
With writing, we have second chances. […] It is true, I am certain, that you will write very many more books than I will, but it is me, not you, who was born to be the writer. (17.8)
Writing is a way for both Alex and Jonathan to create a past, present, and future that they prefer to reality. The difference is that Alex has to make a living somehow, while Jonathan is a middle-class American who has the luxury of creative work.
Quote #9
I do not think that there are any limits to how excellent we could make life seem. (22.7)
Alex wants to write life bigger and better; Jonathan wants to write realistically. Perhaps Jonathan believes that life is awesome enough and doesn't need embellishment. Or maybe he's just deluded; after all, he's the one writing about a village named after a baby who was born from the river. Pretty realistic there, dude.