“When I'm writing the first draft, I'm writing in a very slovenly way: ...” — Pat Barker Quote

“When I'm writing the first draft, I'm writing in a very slovenly way: anything to get the outline of the story on paper.”

“Fiction should be about moral dilemmas that are so bloody difficult that the author doesn't know the answer.”

“When writing about historical characters I try to be as accurate as possible, and in particular not to misrepresent the view they held. With a real historical figure you have to be fair, and this is not an obligation you have in dealing with your own creations, so it is quite different.”

“I feel like whatever team drafts me I'd fit into because they're going to get the best receiver in the draft. Regardless of if they really need a receiver early or not, the way I'm going to come in and work, they're going to get the guy they hoped they drafted and be excited about it.”

“They don't draft you to sit there and stand on the sideline.”

“The first draft of everything, I write longhand. One of the nice things about that is that it makes you keep going. If you write a bad sentence on the computer, then it's very tempting to go back and fidget with it and spend another 20 minutes trying to make it into a good sentence.”