When I started 'Case Histories,' the characters were all going to Antarctica on a cruise. The first part was called 'Embarkation.' It was supposed to be about everyone preparing to embark on the cruise, but it mushroomed into an entire book. Kate Atkinson antarcticabookcall share on social
My highest point was the first thing I won, a short story competition in a women's magazine in the Eighties. It was the first time I'd had my writing validated, and the first thing I'd ever shown anyone else. Kate Atkinson competitioneightyhigh share on social
I need to be very isolated to write, and unfortunately isolation is often quite difficult to find. My ideal writing environment would be a country house hotel in the middle of nowhere, with full room service. Kate Atkinson countrydifficultenvironment share on social
I don't want to spoil the magic, but it's a very curious thing that honestly baffles me. It's the nearest we'll ever get to playing God, to suddenly produce these fully formed creatures. It is a bit odd. Other aspects you work out more - you rework sentences, you rework imagery. But not characters. Kate Atkinson aspectbafflebite share on social
I usually start writing a novel that I then abandon. When I say abandon, I don't think any writer ever abandons anything that they regard as even a half-good sentence. So you recycle. I mean, I can hang on to a sentence for several years and then put it into a book that's completely different from the one it started in. Kate Atkinson abandonbookcompletely share on social
It was failing part of my Ph.D. that led me into novel-writing. By then I was 29, had remarried and had a second baby. It struck me that I'd lost my path in life and I felt frustrated. That's when I started to write. Kate Atkinson babyfailfelt share on social
The great thing about writing compared to life is getting to tie things up. Kate Atkinson comparegreatlife Change image and share on social
Everyone said, 'Well, you're very old for a first novel,' and I said, 'How do you write when you haven't lived? How do you write when you have no experience? How do you write straight out of university?' Kate Atkinson experiencelivestraight share on social
Writing for me is quite a plastic form, a kind of mental sculpture, although that sounds weird. It acquires its character and its depth as it goes along. Kate Atkinson acquirecharacterdepth Change image and share on social
Alternate history fascinates me, as it fascinates all novelists, because 'What if?' is the big thing. Kate Atkinson alternatebigfascinate Change image and share on social