'When life began to be all about organising carers, care homes, sale of the family home, I surprised myself by turning to fantasy.'

When life began to be all about organising carers, care homes, sale of the family home, I surprised myself by turning to fantasy; the joy of sitting down on the bus for a few minutes and entering another world.

The post Penny Black appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'I imagined that by this point in his evening marking session, the tough, Welsh, rugby-playing Mr Thomas would be wiping away torrents of tears. '

I imagined that by this point in his evening marking session, the tough, Welsh, rugby-playing Mr Thomas would be wiping away torrents of tears. Now I can't help but picture Mr Thomas gagging on his supper.

The post Caroline Sanderson appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'If I can't think how to make something work, or make a seam seem seamless, I put square brackets around it. '

If I can't think how to make something work, or make a seam seem seamless, I put square brackets around it and go play somewhere else. Eventually the holes begin to be closed.

The post Joan Lennon appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'If potential readers know who Brian Clegg is and what my books are like, they're more likely to buy the next. Marketing is about building my brand.'

If potential readers know who Brian Clegg is and what my books are like, they're more likely to buy the next. Marketing is partly about building my brand, and partly about raising awareness.

The post Brian Clegg appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'I've written family memoir that blends novelised biography with history and travel. Occasionally my work has bamboozled staff in bookstores.'

I've written family memoir that blends novelised biography with history and travel writing. I've written cultural history as memoir, and memoir as prose poem. Occasionally my work has bamboozled staff in bookstores.

The post Marina Benjamin appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'I feel lucky to live in this era of an extraordinary range of readily available texts. I use the word 'read' loosely, often 'dip into' might better describe it.'

I feel lucky to live in this era of an extraordinary range of readily available texts. I use the word 'read' loosely, often 'dip into' might better describe it, but when I'm enthralled, I can still stay up most of the night reading.

The post Wendy Wallace appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'The day I learned there were people in Britain who pilfered eggs from birds on the verge of extinction, plunged me into existential despair.'

The day I learned there were people in Britain who pilfered eggs from birds on the verge of extinction, for kicks, as a kind of hobby, plunged me from sorrow into existential despair.

The post Caroline Brothers appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'Creating a family and a home filled with love; nothing else will matter as much to you, and there's nothing wrong with that.'

Creating a family and a home filled with love; nothing else will matter as much to you, and there's nothing wrong with that, whatever the bohemians or the feminists will tell you.

The post Lucy Moore appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'I'll do about thirty minutes of yoga, which puts me into a nice, calm frame of mind. But if I am doing heavy lifting, by which I mean drafting fiction, then no yoga. '

After breakfast, I'll probably do about thirty minutes of yoga, which puts me into a nice, calm frame of mind. But if I am doing heavy lifting, by which I mean drafting fiction, then no yoga. I need all my jittery energy firmly aimed at my notebook.

The post Zoë Marriott appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'Sometimes a story moves sideways, or you have flashbacks. The important thing is to keep the narrative flowing.'

Sometimes a story moves sideways, or you have flashbacks. The important thing is to keep the narrative flowing in a way that the reader can follow and become engaged with. Doing it slowly, like drip-feed.

The post Kerry Young appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.