I was a terrible painter - my portraits looked like the evil chimera love-children of Picasso's demoiselles and the BBC test card clown. Sarah Hall bbccardchild Change image and share on social
It's a lovely feeling, just working away at the desk, putting words down, building words up... I think you have to be aware that what you're doing is not just a private act, it's a societal thing. Sarah Hall actawarebuild Change image and share on social
For its speculations to be taken seriously, dystopian fiction must be part of a discussion of contemporary society, a projection of ongoing political failures perhaps, or the wringing of present jeopardy for future disaster. Sarah Hall contemporarydisasterdiscussion share on social
Having judged a few competitions, it's clear that novelists are often the laziest short story writers. Sarah Hall clearcompetitionjudge Change image and share on social
My favourite pool is located in a remote valley in the eastern Lake District, surrounded by vine-hung cliffs and slippery boulders. It has a torrential sheet waterfall at one end and is almost black in colour, so it appears bottomless, a portal to nowhere. Sarah Hall appearblackbottomless share on social
I used to dislike bookshops immensely as a child and was won over only later in life. Sarah Hall bookshopchilddislike Change image and share on social
I was brought up in the north of England, which is probably no rougher than anywhere else, but I remember as a child being kind of mesmerized by girls fighting on the playground. Sarah Hall bringchildengland Change image and share on social
I was brought up in Cumbria where I saw all these fierce agricultural women. Sarah Hall agriculturalbringcumbria Change image and share on social
I don't reckon there are many writers who start out really expecting writing to be an attainable occupation. Well, I didn't. It was a pipe dream. Sarah Hall attainabledreamexpect Change image and share on social
It's very interesting to me that the nationalist movement in Scotland has become so positive and self-reflective rather than anti-English. The referendum in 2014 was peaceful, for all its deeply and passionately divided people. Sarah Hall antideeplydivide share on social
