I shouldn't believe anything I say, if I were you-and that includes what I just told you.

Writing is not something you can do or you can't. It's not even something that 'other people do' or 'for smart people only' or even 'for people who finished school and went to University'. Nonsense. Anyone can do it. But no-one can do it straight off the bat. Like plastering, brain surgery or assembling truck engines, you have to do a bit of training - get your hands dirty - and make some mistakes.

The fun one can have writing books about books is limitless, to be honest.

the best lies to tell are the ones people want to believe

the Real-World was a sprawling mess of a book in need of a good editor.

There is much unexplained in the world. It behooves us to be wary at all times. Just when you think you've got the hang of it, along comes string theory, collateralized debt obligations or Björk's new album, and bam! You're as confused as you were when you first started.

Agents and publishers only want one thing - good writing.