What I do say is that I can write verse, and that the writing of verse in strict form is the best possible training for writing good prose. Philip Pullman formgoodprose Change image and share on social
For that reason you can't write with music playing, and anyone who says he can is either writing badly, or not listening to the music, or lying. You need to hear what you're writing, and for that you need silence. Philip Pullman badlyhearlie share on social
And before I'd got to the end of the first paragraph, I'd come up slap bang against a fundamental problem that still troubles me today whenever I begin a story, and it's this: where am I telling it from? Philip Pullman bangbeginend share on social
True education flowers at the point when delight falls in love with responsibility. Philip Pullman delighteducationfall Change image and share on social
Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and no doubt it was very interesting, and some people went there, but I never would. I'd spend all my life without ever going to China, but it wouldn't matter, because there was all the rest of the world to visit. Philip Pullman chinadoubtinterest share on social
I had passed through the entire British education system studying literature, culminating in three years of reading English at Oxford, and they'd never told me about something as basic as the importance of point of view in fiction! Philip Pullman basicbritishculminate share on social
Everything has a meaning, if only we could read it. Philip Pullman meanread Change image and share on social
Argue with anything else, but don't argue with your own nature. Philip Pullman arguenature Change image and share on social
If you can't think of what to write, tough luck; write anyway. If you can think of lots more when you've finished the three pages, don't write it; it'll be that much easier to get going next day. Philip Pullman dayeasyfinish Change image and share on social
What I couldn't help noticing was that I learned more about the novel in a morning by trying to write a page of one than I'd learned in seven years or so of trying to write criticism. Philip Pullman criticismlearnmorning Change image and share on social
