I see people in terms of dialogue and I believe that people are their talk.

Do be kind to yourself. Fill pages as quickly as possible; double space, or write on every second line. Regard every new page as a small triumph. Until you get to page 50. Then calm down, and start worrying about the quality. Do feel anxiety - it's the job.

I'm going to sound like an old man but at my age, it's lovely doing something that you've never done before.

Schools don't really allow failure and yet it's part of any endeavour, not just writing.

I tend to plan as I write. And I want to leave myself open and the character open to keep on going until it seems to be the time to stop.

To claim that music is more important than oxygen would be trite and sentimental. It would also be true.

I'm not recognised that much. I'm just a bald man in glasses and there's a rash of them in Dublin. It'd be different if I had a mohican.