I didn't cry much after I was 35, but staggered stony-faced into middle age, a handkerchief still in my bag just in case. Hilary Mantel agebagcase Change image and share on social
Fear of commitment lies behind the fear of writing. Hilary Mantel commitmentfearlie Change image and share on social
When you have committed enough words to paper, you feel you have a spine stiff enough to stand up in the wind. But when you stop writing, you find that's all you are - a spine, a row of rattling vertebrae, dried out like an old quill pen. Hilary Mantel commitdryfeel share on social
Fiction isn't made by scraping the bones of topicality for the last shreds and sinews, to be processed into mechanically recovered prose. Like journalism, it deals in ideas as well as facts, but also in metaphors, symbols and myths. Hilary Mantel bonedealfact share on social
Concentrate your narrative energy on the point of change. This is especially important for historical fiction. When your character is new to a place, or things alter around them, that's the point to step back and fill in the details of their world. Hilary Mantel alterbackchange share on social
Novels teach you that actions have consequences. They help you grow up. Hilary Mantel actionconsequencegrow Change image and share on social
In my 20s I was in constant pain from undiagnosed endometriosis. With no prospect of a cure, I decided I needed a career - writing - that could accommodate being ill. Hilary Mantel 20saccommodatecareer Change image and share on social
Imagination only comes when you privilege the subconscious, when you make delay and procrastination work for you. Hilary Mantel delayimaginationmake Change image and share on social
My thoughts have been the thing I can rely on. Hilary Mantel relythingthought Change image and share on social
A novel should be a book of questions, not a book of answers. Hilary Mantel answerbookquestion Change image and share on social