I sometimes talk to people who think I got published because I was an editor, or because I was an agent, and I have to disabuse them of that notion. It wasn't because of my emplacement within the industry. Actually the writing came first, and the publishing came first as well.

Garth Nix

Categorized in : Thinking Writing Editors

There is never one absolutely right thing to do. All you can do is honor what you believe, accept the consequences of your own actions, and make the best out of what happens.

honor action believe

Sometimes it is easier to see the light when you stand partly in... by Garth Nix

Sometimes it is easier to see the light when you stand partly in the darkness.

light darkness sometimes

Fear and realisation of ignorance, strong medicines against stupi... by Garth Nix

Fear and realisation of ignorance, strong medicines against stupid pride.

strong stupid fear

People often presume I'm from whatever country they're from. So Americans presume I'm American and the British presume I'm British. And they're surprised to discover I actually am Australian. And actually some Australians are surprised too.

british country people

Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker? by Garth Nix

Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?

destiny path doe

The most important thing is to be true to yourself, however you feel, and not try to feel or behave differently because you think you should, or someone has told you how you must feel. But do think about it. Unexamined feelings lead to all kinds of trouble.

feelings life thinking

I love you," he whispered. "I hope you don't mind. by Garth Nix

I love you," he whispered. "I hope you don't mind.

mind love-you love

I have a lot of friends who served in the regular army for a long time. Quite a few of my friends from that time went on to become full-time soldiers. But you live in a world that is entirely army. Your whole world is pretty much that military service, and it's very hard to do other things and to break out of that environment.

army military long

Often, I get the feeling that the story is really happening somewhere and all I'm doing is trying to work out the best way to tell it.

work-out feelings trying

Please," said Lirael..."I think I would like to work in this Library." "The Library," repeated Sanar, looking troubled. "That can be dangerous to a girl of fourteen. Or a woman of forty, for that matter.

library girl thinking

Maybe if I act well enough, I'll come to believe it myself. by Garth Nix

Maybe if I act well enough, I'll come to believe it myself.

wells enough believe

While princes do rule the empire, they have to work within certain boundaries, and they're also always in a contest with each other to become the next emperor. And this contest includes actually killing each other, doing anything they can get away with to each other.

killing-each-other empires next

Touchstone watched, suddenly conscious that he probably only had five seconds left to be alone with Sabriel, to say something, to say anything. Perhaps the last five seconds they ever would have alone together. I am not afraid, he said to himself. "I love you," he whispered. "I hope you don't mind.

mind say-anything love-you

If an action must be taken that will benefit the majority at the cost of the minority, is it morally indefensible? If an action taken for the benefit of a majority occurs at the expense of a minority, is it moral action?

majority minorities taken

I am not going to change who I am. I am human and I know how to love, and be kind, and be compassionate to those who are weaker than me. Just because I have power doesn't mean I have to use it!

who-i-am use mean

I don't do all the background and the worldbuilding before I start the story. What I do is I work out the bare minimum I need to start the story, and often that really is a bare minimum - it's a character in a situation, and I know nothing about the character, I know nothing about the situation, and then I think about it for a long time, and make notes about where I think the story is going to go and so on, but I don't really make notes to do with the background or the magic system or the world.

work-out character thinking

‎"It always seemed somehow less real here... a really detailed dream, but sort of washed out, like a thin watercolor. Softer, somehow, even with their electric light and engines and everything. I guess it was because there was hardly any magic.

light real dream

Sam picked up his pack, but before he could put it on, Mogget leaped onto it and slid under the top flap. All that could be seen of him were his green eyes and one white-furred ear. "Remember I advised against this way," he instructed. "Wake me when whatever terrible thing is a about to happen happens, or if it appears I might get wet.

eye white ears

Let this be my final lesson. Everyone and everything has a time t... by Garth Nix

Let this be my final lesson. Everyone and everything has a time to die.

finals dies lessons

For all my longer works (i.e. the novels) I write chapter outlines so I can have the pleasure of departing from them later on.

chapters pleasure writing