Marry someone who flatters you. Because I've written 80 books since 'War Horse' but when my wife reads one, all she says is, 'It's quite good, but it's not as good as 'War Horse,' is it?' Michael Morpurgo bookflattergood Change image and share on social
It's the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom. Michael Morpurgo classroomdifferencemake Change image and share on social
With all editing, no matter how sensitive - and I've been very lucky here - I react sulkily at first, but then I settle down and get on with it, and a year later I have my book in my hand. Michael Morpurgo bookedithand Change image and share on social
I got married young, far too young, but it is fine. We are still married 48 years later. I got married at 19. Michael Morpurgo finemarryyear Change image and share on social
If I'm serious, yes, I'd like to have done what Shakespeare did... to act and write. You learn so much from acting. One of our great writers, Alan Bennett, does both supremely well. When I write a story, I tend to speak it aloud as I'm writing it. Michael Morpurgo actalanaloud share on social
A notion for a story is for me a confluence of real events, historical perhaps, or from my own memory to create an exciting fusion. Michael Morpurgo confluencecreateevent Change image and share on social
There is the myth that writing books for children is easier than writing books for grownups, whereas we know that truly great books for children are works of genius, whether it's 'Alice in Wonderland' or the 'Gruffalo' or 'Northern Lights.' When it's a great book, it's a great book, whether it's for children or not. Michael Morpurgo alicebookchild share on social
I write fiction. I make things up, it's what I do. Michael Morpurgo fictionmakething Change image and share on social
I was brought up, as a lot of kids are, on 'Aesop's Fables,' 'Brothers Grimm,' 'La Fontaine,' all those sorts of things. Hans Christian Andersen is a hero of mine. Michael Morpurgo aesopandersenbring Change image and share on social
When children are very young, you read them books that are positive to help them go to sleep. But there comes a moment when they begin to understand the difficulties of the world. They know there are problems and the books they read should reflect that, not gloss over them. Michael Morpurgo beginbookchild share on social