You write people as human beings first and then the gender specific stuff second.

It's only now that I realize that behaviour always has a context and precedents, it's what you do rather than what you are, although we often never recognise that context or understand what these precedents are.

I think young writers should get other degrees first, social sciences, arts degrees or even business degrees. What you learn is research skills, a necessity because a lot of writing is about trying to find information.

Bad luck is usually transmitted by close proximity to habitual sufferers.

That's all very well as an abstract moral principle, Avril, a coffee-table theoretical construct, but there's no denying the sheer gratuitous pleasure to be derived from seeing members of the ruling class in pain and torment.

The subsequent success levels, all the other stuff [after Trainspotting], it comes at a much higher level.

Love does not exist, it's like religion, the state wants you to believe in that kind of crap so they can control you, and f**k your head up.