'Richard Brautigan has a unique way of combining broad comedy with a truly desperate view of the human condition.'

Richard Brautigan has a unique way of combining broad comedy with a truly desperate view of the human condition; his books are very funny but you sometimes feel you should be weeping instead.

The post Geoff Hattersley appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'The sweaters with worn-out elbows were on their way out; writers were starting to look fashionable, even sexy. '

The sweaters with worn-out elbows were on their way out; writers were starting to look fashionable, even sexy. Suddenly the job description increased exponentially.

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

'Thinking, telling, writing began with the ocean of story, between the dusty Northern plains of Delhi and the southern, sultry port of Madras – now Chennai.'

Thinking, telling, writing began with the ocean of story; growing up in India, between the dusty Northern plains of Delhi and the southern, sultry port of Madras – now Chennai – was a sound sensation.

The post Vayu Naidu appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'My agent thought the first hundred pages were the best thing I'd ever written, and wanted the rest as soon as possible... '

My agent thought the first hundred pages were the best thing I'd ever written, and wanted the rest as soon as possible. When I delivered the next two hundred and fifty pages, she wasn't quite so enthusiastic.

The post Ray French appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'I copied any skill I admired, including knitting and skipping, which worried my father for a while. Then I wrote a poem.'

I copied any skill I admired, including knitting and skipping, which worried my father for a while; I made model aircraft in ships, and something existed which hadn't before. Then I wrote a poem.

The post John Harrison appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'Use words like Impressionists use paint; dab at the scene, use the colours and sensations to fill the reader's head.'

Use words like Impressionists use paint; dab at the scene, use the colours and sensations to fill the reader's head, and let them create their own images in their mind.

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

'Once I start writing I stay away from anything similar; the temptation to mimic someone else's perfect prose is too seductive. '

Once I start writing I stay away from anything similar; the temptation to mimic someone else's perfect prose is too seductive. In fact, I try and avoid historical fiction altogether.

The post Katherine Clements appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'Growing up in a family of six children, writing was always a way to make myself heard. Even if, for a long time, the only person listening was me.'

Growing up in a family of six children, writing was always a way to make myself heard. Even if, for a long time, the only person listening was me.

The post Rebecca Abrams appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'I can't imagine that anyone has conveyed the feeling of nostalgia better than Evelyn Waugh in Brideshead; nostalgia for youth and happier times.'

I can't imagine that anyone has conveyed the feeling of nostalgia better than Evelyn Waugh in Brideshead; nostalgia for youth and happier times, but also for the great country houses of England.

The post Linda Buckley Archer appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'Why would that artist who lived many years ago, still be of interest to you today? And at the end of each chapter, what will make you read on?'

Why would that artist who lived many years ago, still be of interest to you today? And at the end of each chapter, what will make you read on?

The post Sue Roe appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.