I did think of becoming a priest quite late on, when other boys were thinking of knocking over fences and going out with girls. I would have made a very good bishop: nice housekeeper, nice clothes - god, the clothes. Colm Toibin bishopboyclothe share on social
I'm slightly influenced by sport in that I like the idea of trying, like an athlete, to keep absolutely ready. That's an emotional thing, almost. I don't mean physically, although I play tennis. But you try to keep yourself ready. Colm Toibin absolutelyathleteemotional share on social
I think you can get a sort of intensity and an edginess offering nine stories in a book. Competing versions of things. Colm Toibin bookcompeteedginess Change image and share on social
I feel just fine about ignoring or bypassing the rights of people I have known and loved to be rendered faithfully, or to be left in peace, and out of novels. Colm Toibin bypassfaithfullyfeel Change image and share on social
All writing is a form of manipulation, of course, but you realize that a plain sentence can actually do so much. Colm Toibin formmanipulationplain Change image and share on social
People's interest in glamour and clothes and nylon stockings and all those things were, when I was a little boy, the sort of world that I listened to. Colm Toibin boyclotheglamour Change image and share on social
Describe character using dialogue. Describe character using what the characters see or do or think, but not what they had done or where they had been. Colm Toibin characterdescribedialogue Change image and share on social
I don't think we have a right to enjoy our neuroses; in fact, I believe that we have a duty not to. But we cannot walk away from ourselves. Who else is there to become? Colm Toibin dutyenjoyfact Change image and share on social
I work very deliberately, with a plan. But sometimes I come to a point that I planned as the end and it needs softening. Ending a novel is almost like putting a child to sleep - it can't be done abruptly. Colm Toibin abruptlychilddeliberately share on social
I've never put Northern Ireland into a novel because it's not my territory. I come from the South, so my imaginative territory is very much the Republic of Ireland rather than the North. Even though, if I wrote a novel about the North, it might sell more. Colm Toibin haveimaginativeireland share on social
