Writer's block! It doesn't exist. You just long for ideas to go away so you have an idea of peace. Colm Toibin blockexistidea Change image and share on social
The sentences I write have their roots in song and poetry, and take their bearings from music and painting, as much as from the need to impart mere information, or mirror anything. I am not a realist writer, even if I seem like one. Colm Toibin bearingimpartinformation share on social
When a book comes from the publisher and you see it for the first time... Of course it's not remotely like seeing a baby for the first time, but I can remember with each book what room I was in when I opened it. That would be excitement, though, I think. Not pride. Colm Toibin babybookexcitement share on social
I suppose one should have an integrated personality, but I've never really seen the point. Colm Toibin haveintegratepersonality Change image and share on social
In Ireland, novels and plays still have a strange force. The writing of fiction and the creation of theatrical images can affect life there more powerfully and stealthily than speeches, or even legislation. Imagined worlds can lodge deeply in the private sphere, dislodging much else, especially when the public sphere is fragile. Colm Toibin affectcreationdeeply share on social
The problem is once you've written the opening paragraph and worked out how the rest of the story will go in your head, there's nothing in it for you. I write in longhand using disposable fountain pens on the right-hand side of the notebook for the first draft, then I rewrite some of the sentences and paragraphs on the left-hand side. Colm Toibin disposabledraftfountain share on social
People love talking about writers as storytellers, but I hate being called that: it suggests I got it from my grandmother or something, when my writing really comes out of silence. If a storyteller came up to me, I'd run away. Colm Toibin callgrandmotherhate share on social
Suffering is too strong a word, but writing is serious work. I pull the stuff up from me - it's not as if it's a pleasure. Colm Toibin pleasurepullstrong Change image and share on social
I still have a stammer that I can control by not opening a sentence with a hard consonant, or by concentrating for a moment, breathing softly down. Growing up, the 'Our Father' was lovely, made for me, the 'Hail Mary' was gorgeous, and 'Glory Be to the Father' was an absolute nightmare. Colm Toibin absolutebreatheconcentrate share on social
It may be enough to study history in all its nuance and ambiguity for its own sake. But there is no country free of the need to find new ways of reading the past as an inspiring way of thinking about everything else, including the present. Colm Toibin ambiguitycountryfind share on social