Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and no doubt it was very interesting, and some people went there, but I never would.

I don't know where my ideas come from, but I know where they come to. They come to my desk, and if I'm not there, they go away again.

I've been surprised by how little criticism I've got. Harry Potter's been taking all the flak. I'm a great fan of J.K. Rowling, but the people - mainly from America's Bible Belt - who complain that Harry Potter promotes Satanism or witchcraft obviously haven't got enough in their lives. Meanwhile, I've been flying under the radar, saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry has said. My books are about killing God.

I stopped believing there was a power of good and a power of evil that were outside us. And I came to believe that good and evil are names for what people do, not for what they are.

When you choose one way out of many, all the ways you don't take are snuffed out like candles, as if they'd never existed.

Sticks and stones, I'll break yer bones, but names ain't worth a quarrel.

If you can't think of what to write, tough luck; write anyway. If you can think of lots more when you've finished the three pages, don't write it; it'll be that much easier to get going next day.