Deciding to write a novel about something - as opposed to finding you are writing a novel around something - sounds to me like a good evocation of writer's block. Martin Amis blockdecideevocation Change image and share on social
It's becoming clearer and clearer to me that the world is there to be celebrated by writers, and in fact this is what all the good ones do, and that the great fashion for gloom and grimness was in fact a false path that certain writers took, I think in response to the horrors of the first half of the twentieth century. Martin Amis celebratecenturyclear share on social
Jane was my wicked stepmother: she was generous, affectionate and resourceful; she salvaged my schooling and I owe her an unknowable debt for that. One flaw: sometimes, early on, she would tell me things designed to make me think less of my mother, and I would wave her away, saying, 'Jane, this just backfires and makes me think less of you.' Martin Amis affectionatebackfiredebt share on social
Novelists don't age as quickly as philosophers, who often face professional senility in their late twenties. Martin Amis agefacelate Change image and share on social
Every 10 years you're a different person, and the really great books evolve with you as you get older. They're full of new rewards. Martin Amis bookevolvefull Change image and share on social
When we read, we are doing more than delectating words on a page stories, characters, images, notions. We are communing with the mind of the author. Martin Amis authorcharactercommune Change image and share on social
All novelists write in a different way, but I always write in longhand and then do two versions of typescript on a computer. Martin Amis computerlonghandnovelist Change image and share on social
Novelists are stamina merchants, grinders, nine-to-fivers, and their career curves follow the usual arc of human endeavour. Martin Amis arccareercurve Change image and share on social
Style is not neutral; it gives moral directions. Martin Amis directionmoralneutral Change image and share on social
People ask me if I ever thought of writing a children's book. I say, 'If I had a serious brain injury I might well write a children's book', but otherwise the idea of being conscious of who you're directing the story to is anathema to me, because, in my view, fiction is freedom and any restraints on that are intolerable. Martin Amis anathemabookbrain share on social