'For the past few years, I've taken to scheduling 'Recovery Days' into my calendar before and after events in the outside world.'

For the past few years, I've taken to scheduling 'Recovery Days' into my calendar before and after events in the outside world that are generally draining for me. I've had to do this because otherwise I get quite close to collapse.

'What I love about fan-fiction is that the writers, unbound by the demands of publishers and marketing teams, can be wildly experimental.'

What I love about fan-fiction is that the writers, unbound by the demands of publishers and marketing teams, can be wildly experimental and unconventional. I learn a lot.

'Only when you have put an assemblage of words together that you can actually clearly see what those assumptions are.'

As a writer you stand to one side of your assumptions, simply because it is only when you have put an assemblage of words together that you can actually clearly see what those assumptions are.

'There is nothing I love more than learning about a new genre, taking it apart and working out how it works. '

There is nothing I love more than learning about a new genre, taking it apart and working out how it works. Whether it's the dramatic monologue or a First Experience picture book, propaganda or a rom-com.

'Even as I read these words, a portion of my own brain is mulling over some problem connected with the novel I am currently writing. '

Even as I read these words, a portion of my own brain is mulling over some problem connected with the novel I am currently writing. When I take the dog for a walk on the beach I can sometimes almost see words scrolling down in the back of my mind.

'I respect Steinbeck, but think he missed a trick in Of Mice And Men. Lenny is brain-damaged, but Lenny is not the only vulnerable character. Curley's wife deserves more detail.'

I respect Steinbeck, but think he missed a trick in Of Mice And Men. Lenny is brain-damaged, but Lenny is not the only vulnerable character. Curley's wife deserves more detail, more compassionate insight. I would develop her character.

'Occasionally acceptance comes first time, but more usually when a published piece appears, it will have a string of rejections trailing visibly behind it like a comet's tail. '

Occasionally acceptance comes first time, but more usually when a published piece appears, it will have a string of rejections trailing visibly behind it like a comet's tail. Students need to learn that this is simply part of the process of getting published.

'It is time to activate the most important software in my battery: Mac Freedom. A service I pay for to deny myself access to a service I also pay for.'

It is time to activate the most important software in my battery: Mac Freedom. The height of decadence, it's a service I pay for to deny myself access to a service I also pay for. It completely shuts off the internet except for Spotify.

'Everyone knows about Hitler and the Nazis, even primary school children. But why Stalin is such a mystery I'm at a loss to explain.'

Everyone knows about Hitler and the Nazis, even primary school children — and quite right too. But why Stalin is such a mystery — not least because he arguably rivals Hitler in wickedness — I'm at a loss to explain.

'As a physics student at university, I learnt things in mathematical terms. But have been trying to understand things in words and images. '

As a physics student at university, I learnt things in mathematical terms. But I'm quite a visual person, and ever since have been trying to understand the things I was taught, in words and images. In a sense, therefore, I write for myself.