As a young child my attention span was, as I remember it, rather short. Michael Morpurgo attentionchildremember 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
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
I really can't write fantasy. I cannot invent a world which does not exist. And I can't read fantasy either. As soon as I realise I'm reading a book that hasn't got its roots in a reality I can comprehend, I switch off. Michael Morpurgo bookcomprehendexist share on social
Admitting failure is quite cleansing, but never - pleasurable. Michael Morpurgo admitcleansefailure Change image and share on social
It is really important that focusing on things such as spelling, punctuation, grammar and handwriting doesn't inhibit the creative flow. When I was at school there was a huge focus on copying and testing and it put me off words and stories for years. Michael Morpurgo copycreativeflow 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
When I sit down I write very fast... if I haven't finished a book in two or three months then I think it's not going well. Michael Morpurgo bookfastfinish Change image and share on social
Access to books and the encouragement of the habit of reading: these two things are the first and most necessary steps in education and librarians, teachers and parents all over the country know it. It is our children's right and it is also our best hope and their best hope for the future. Michael Morpurgo accessbookchild share on social
Characters are the key to a good book. It took me several novels to comprehend that. Michael Morpurgo bookcharactercomprehend Change image and share on social