'For me, the process of writing introduces a persistent, consuming, urgency in my head, but paradoxically it also has a calming effect.'

For me, the process of writing introduces a persistent, consuming, urgency in my head, but paradoxically it also has a calming effect; an ongoing book project gives me purpose.

The post Tim Ecott appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'I am very conscious of being rejected by people who are, relative to me, younger and younger.'

I am very conscious of being rejected by people who are, relative to me, younger and younger, and it might be that they are rejecting me largely because I am in my mid-fifties.

The post Andrew Martin appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'I treat books quite roughly; I crack their spines mercilessly, turn down page corners, and scribble stuff. I like to break them in.'

I treat books quite roughly; that is, I crack their spines mercilessly, turn down page corners, and scribble stuff — quite often recipes or telephone numbers — in them. I suppose I like to break them in.

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

'When I'm reading back work, I try to wear my 'audience' hat. I remove myself as the writer, and read the work as if I've paid money for my ticket.'

When I'm reading back work, I try to wear my 'audience' hat. I remove myself as the writer, and read the work as if I've paid money for my ticket and I'm sat in a darkened theatre.

The post Rhiannon Tise appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'Someone once said, "Praise is always personal; rejection almost never is". It might have been me that said it, but it seems too profound and wise.'

Someone once said, "Praise is always personal; rejection almost never is". It might have been me that said it, but it seems too profound and wise to have originated in my head.

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

'For complete relaxation, crime fiction from America, Britain and Scandinavia; these are the books I most enjoy as they have nothing to do with my work... until now.'

For complete relaxation, crime fiction from several countries, especially America, Britain and Scandinavia; these are the books I most enjoy as they have nothing to do with my work... or so it was until now.

The post Sally Cline appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'Please don't assume that speaker and poet are always identical; the voice addressing you directly could be a fragment of dust on a Jacobean stage.'

Please don't assume that speaker and poet are always identical; the voice addressing you directly could be a fragment of dust on a Jacobean stage, or a woman trapped inside a laburnum tree.

The post Robyn Bolam appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'My glorious career as a primary school teacher lasted three years before my most indulgent husband agreed that I could give it up. '

My glorious career as a primary school teacher lasted all of three years before my most indulgent husband agreed that I could give it up and write full time. He said that if I did not, he would have a nervous breakdown.

The post Tamar Yellin appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'Planning, mapping out a plot, creating characters, building the world they inhabit, is itself a creative process.'

Planning, mapping out a plot, creating characters, building the world they inhabit, is itself a creative process; in historical fiction I spend a lot of time looking at the history.

The post Morgen Witzel appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'I am a crime writer, but all of my books represent a combination of crime, romance, horror and family saga, and they all explore psychological and social issues. '

I am a crime writer, but all of my books represent a combination of crime, romance, horror and family saga, and they all explore psychological and social issues.

The post Leigh Russell appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.