Anything that anybody wants to give me is great! I've had folk songs, heavy metal songs, jewellery... I would never call anything any fan gives me weird, as it's how people express what they like about the books, what it means to them, and that's a wonderful thing. Patrick Ness bookcallexpress share on social
Online is such a brilliant, brilliant way to connect with young readers - even if they just want to tweet, 'Hey, I read your book!' - that, absolutely, I connect with that. But I also treat writing as solitary and keep it to myself as long as I can. Patrick Ness absolutelybookbrilliant share on social
The magical and fantastical isn't something I'm uncomfortable with in books, and I chafe slightly at the idea that a purely realist novel somehow has more value. Patrick Ness bookchafefantastical Change image and share on social
I live in England, so I take a lot of trains, and you can't really go anywhere without somebody talking on their mobile phone behind you, forcing you to listen to their conversation. With the Internet, with texting, with networking sites, there's already information everywhere. Patrick Ness conversationenglandforce share on social
I write 1,000-1,500 words. The next day, I rewrite it and add 1,000-1,500 words to the end of it. Patrick Ness 000addday Change image and share on social
I'm a long distance runner, and I get my best ideas when I'm out running. It also helps that I can't write it down immediately - if you hold onto an idea, other things will stick on it. Patrick Ness distancehelphold Change image and share on social
Limitations can be hugely creative and hugely inspiring - so long as they are the ones you choose for yourself. I will not allow anyone to take anything off my palette, but if I do, then within that, I can be creative. Patrick Ness choosecreativehugely share on social
The best characters in books are always the difficult ones, and why would you want to fall in love with someone difficult? The ones I'd fall in love with are the ones I'd definitely keep out of a book. Patrick Ness bookcharacterdifficult share on social
Whenever I have tried to write for other people, that's when my writing has failed, when nobody wanted to read it or buy it. But it's only when I've been able to write a story that makes me excited, only then have other people wanted to read it. Patrick Ness buyexcitefail share on social
How you leave the reader is so important - not the climax; I call it the 'exit feeling'. Patrick Ness callclimaxexit Change image and share on social
