I'm a writer! If you work in an office, it dampens you. It makes you fit a routine. The effect of being a writer is not dissimilar to being long-term unemployed. And everyone knows that is not good for you. Mark Haddon dampendissimilareffect share on social
The one thing you have to do if you write a book is put yourself in someone else's shoes. The reader's shoes. You've got to entertain them. Mark Haddon bookentertainhave Change image and share on social
Fiction that responds to recent world events is a hostage to fortune, because all momentous events look very different a year, two years, three years later. Mark Haddon eventfictionfortune Change image and share on social
Things can be funny when people are uneasy. It softens them up and stops them falling asleep on the sofa. I like those moments where people half-smile and half-wince. Mark Haddon asleepfallfunny Change image and share on social
Use your imagination, and you'll see that even the most narrow, humdrum lives are infinite in scope if you examine them with enough care. Mark Haddon careexaminehumdrum Change image and share on social
I've come to realize that most good ideas are precisely the ones you can't describe. Mark Haddon describegoodhave Change image and share on social
Bore children, and they stop reading. There's no room for self-indulgence or showing off or setting the scene. Mark Haddon bearchildindulgence Change image and share on social
As to the number of novels I've abandoned... I shudder to think. I have thrown away five completed novels, and that's a gruesome enough figure. But not necessarily a waste of effort. Mark Haddon abandoncompleteeffort Change image and share on social
Science and literature give me answers. And they ask me questions I will never be able to answer. Mark Haddon answergiveliterature Change image and share on social
I started writing books for children because I could illustrate them myself and because, in my innocence, I thought they'd be easier. Mark Haddon bookchildeasy Change image and share on social