As a writer, you owe it to yourself not to get stuck in a rut of looking at the world in a certain way.

If you have a good story idea, don't assume it must form a prose narrative. It may work better as a play, a screenplay or a poem. Be flexible.

When you are writing laws you are testing words to find their utmost power. Like spells, they have to make things happen in the real world, and like spells, they only work if people believe in them.

At New Year's he had given Anne a present of silver forks with handles of rock crystal. He hopes she will use them to eat with, not to stick in people.

Memory isn't a theme; it's part of the human condition.

History is a set of skills rather than a narrative.

You don't get on by being original. You don't get on by being bright. You don't get on by being strong. You get on by being a subtle crook.