If you have distance from the events, then your story can work as an analogy or parable, rather than its literal narrative.

Firms are a bit concerned about things like oil prices and US growth but actually the change (in firms expectations) is quite small so I think broadly theyre looking for more of the same.

You can only do the best you can in the minute that you're doing it.

I give everything my best shot and sometimes it doesn't work out and other times it works out much better than you thought.

There are so many other people involved in the making of a play or a television series or whatever... even if you're a novelist there's so much in just the marketing of a book, or even the time... the zeitgeist, the moment at which it comes out. There's a lot you can't control.

I can't relax when I'm watching a biographical drama, because it's so close to what it is that I do that I just long for more fiction - so that I can switch off.

The real beauty in my professional experience has been friendships and collaborations with filmmakers.