Top 51 Quotes by Alexander McCall Smith

About Alexander McCall Smith

These are some quotes by Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith Writer, who was born on August 24, 1948.

I've always had a creative urge and I get immense satisfaction from creating something because it feels like I'm making sense of the world and imposing order on it.

I've always had a creative urge and I get immense satisfaction from creating something because it feels like I'm making sense of the world and imposing order on it.

Alexander McCall Smith

Fiction is able to encompass books that are bleak and which dwell on the manifold and terrible problems of our times. But I don't think that all books need to have that particular focus.

Fiction is able to encompass books that are bleak and which dwell on the manifold and terrible problems of our times. But I don't think that all books need to have that particular focus.

Alexander McCall Smith

I've also long since realized that the way to really engage children is to give out prizes; it's amazing how it concentrates their minds.

I've also long since realized that the way to really engage children is to give out prizes; it's amazing how it concentrates their minds.

Alexander McCall Smith

The wider your readership, the greater the chances of offending your readers.

The wider your readership, the greater the chances of offending your readers.

Alexander McCall Smith

I think people in Botswana are pleased that my books paint a positive picture of their lives and portray the country as being very special. They've made a great success of their country, and the people are fed up with the constant reporting of only the problems and poverty of the continent. They welcome something which puts the positive side.

Alexander McCall Smith

Baboons take a bit of getting to know but, apparently, once you break the ice, so to speak, they are complex and interesting creatures with elaborate societies.

Baboons take a bit of getting to know but, apparently, once you break the ice, so to speak, they are complex and interesting creatures with elaborate societies.

Alexander McCall Smith

I just focus on getting the first scene right, with a few lines about the overall plot, and then the book grows organically.

I just focus on getting the first scene right, with a few lines about the overall plot, and then the book grows organically.

Alexander McCall Smith

Wherever I go in the world, people all know about Scotland Street and are always asking me about what's going to happen to the characters next.

Wherever I go in the world, people all know about Scotland Street and are always asking me about what's going to happen to the characters next.

Alexander McCall Smith

With '44 Scotland Street' I found myself having to work out how a daily novel works, and it is completely different to a conventional novel.

With '44 Scotland Street' I found myself having to work out how a daily novel works, and it is completely different to a conventional novel.

Alexander McCall Smith

Serial novels have an unexpected effect; they hook the writer as well as the reader.

Serial novels have an unexpected effect; they hook the writer as well as the reader.

Alexander McCall Smith

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