'This is going to sound great coming from me, but learn to say 'no'. People will tell you that saying yes makes life interesting, but it isn't true.'

This is going to sound great coming from me, but learn to say 'no'. People will tell you that saying yes makes life interesting, but it isn't true.

'I'd written countless spec scripts and sent them off in the hope that someone might commission me. Marks and Gran gave me that opportunity and I could not allow myself to fail.'

Before my big break I'd written countless spec scripts and sent them off in the hope that someone might commission me. Marks and Gran gave me that opportunity and I could not allow myself to fail.

'Our separation was a stringent period; parenting, ambient beats, no girls allowed except for my daughter.'

Our separation was a stringent period; parenting, ambient beats, no girls allowed except for my daughter, and martial arts which in a very direct way changes the artist.

'The precision of Wodehouse, the economy of Fitzgerald and the wild comic invention of Flan O'Brien; these then are the elements that inspire me.'

The precision of Wodehouse, the economy of Fitzgerald and the wild comic invention of Flan O'Brien; these then are the elements that inspire me.

'Better to write rubbish than write nothing. If you've written some rubbish at least you can read over that rubbish and see what's wrong with it.'

It's better to write rubbish than write nothing. If you've written some rubbish at least you can read over that rubbish and see what's wrong with it.

'The great thing about being a writer is that, professionally speaking, it doesn't really matter how badly you mess up; it's all material. '

The great thing about being a writer is that, professionally speaking, it doesn't really matter how badly you mess up; it's all material. You can use everything

'When advances dwindle and rejections become legion – each more hurtful than the last – I remember McCullers, Proust, Balzac and the many others who fought the good fight.'

When advances dwindle and rejections become legion - each more hurtful than the last - I remember McCullers, Proust, Balzac and the many others who fought the good fight.

'I see smokers on the subway or train preparing to smoke as soon as they can find a permitted place. Fortunately my habit is not prohibited.'

I see smokers on the subway or train preparing to smoke as soon as they can find a permitted place, fingering their cigarettes, rolling their tobacco. Fortunately my habit is portable and not prohibited.

'I remember my own 21st birthday, and my wedding day, and I also have these imaginary memories of scaling the rooftops of Ghent.'

I remember my own 21st birthday, and my wedding day, and I also have these imaginary memories of scaling the rooftops of Ghent and splashing through the Brussels sewers to try to get away from a serial killer.

'It does not want to be captured. It does not want to be rectangular. It wants to live it's life in peace.'

It does not want to be captured. It does not want to be rectangular. It wants to live it's life in peace.