As an experienced editor, I disapprove of flashbacks, foreshadowings, and tricksy devices; they belong in the 1980s with M.A.s in postmodernism and chaos theory.

David Mitchell

Categorized in : Theory Editors Chaos

In the 1970s and 1980s there was so little decent fiction for young people, but we're now in a golden age that shows no sign of fading. Philip Pullman, J. K. Rowling, Lemony Snicket are only three of the best known among a good number of equals.

age numbers people

Italians give their city sexes, and they all agree that the sex for a particular city is quite correct, but none of them can explain why. I love that. London's middle-aged and male, respectably married but secretly gay.

gay cities sex

I think all writers of my age who are brought up on films probably by the age of 16 have seen many more films than they have read classics of literature. We can't help but be influenced by film. Film has got some great tricks that it's taught writers.

literature age thinking

Words are very powerful and can lead anyone reading them or hearing them, into contemplation and insight. How the mind follows suit is rarely palpable or expected. This impact is not a matter of metaphysical effects nor of an unexplainable phenomenon. It’s simply part of being human.

impact powerful reading

You can maintain power over people, as long as you give them something. Rob a man of everything, and that man will no longer be in your power.

men long people

There's a link between bigotry and bad spelling. by David Mitchell

There's a link between bigotry and bad spelling.

bigotry spelling links

I understand now that boundaries between noise and sound are conventions. All boundaries are conventions, waiting to be transcended. One may transcend any convention if only one can first conceive of doing so.

atlas waiting sound

Writing is such a damn lonely sickness. by David Mitchell

Writing is such a damn lonely sickness.

sickness lonely writing

I added 'writers' to my list of people not to trust. They make ev... by David Mitchell

I added 'writers' to my list of people not to trust. They make everything up.

lists people

Right, my phone. When these things first appeared, they were so cool. Only when it was too late did people realize they are as cool as electronic tags on remand prisoners.

phones too-late people

It'll be all right." Julia's gentleness makes it worse. "In the end, Jace." "It doesn't feel very all right." "That's because it's not the end.

jace ends feels

Implausible truth can serve one better than plausible fiction by David Mitchell

Implausible truth can serve one better than plausible fiction

plausible fiction

Don't bemoan your misspent life quite yet. Forgive me for flaunting my experience, but you have no conception of what a misspent life constitutes.

flaunting forgive-me forgiving

Human hunger birthed the Civlize, but human hunger killed it too. by David Mitchell

Human hunger birthed the Civlize, but human hunger killed it too.

hunger humans

Freedom!- is the fatuous jingle of our civilization, but only those deprived of it have the barest inkling re: what the stuff actually is.

jingles stuff civilization

What is "poker"? A card game where abler liars take money off les... by David Mitchell

What is "poker"? A card game where abler liars take money off less able liars.

games liars cards

But no, we cross, crisscross, and recross our old tracks like fig... by David Mitchell

But no, we cross, crisscross, and recross our old tracks like figure skaters.

track figures crosses

The Revelation of Sonmi 451 To be is to be perceived, and so to know thyself is only possible through the eyes of the other. The nature of our immortal lives is in the consequences of our words and deeds, that go on and are pushing themselves throughout all time. - Our lives are not our own. From womb to tomb, we are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.

eye kindness past

The most malicious god is the god of the counted chicken. by David Mitchell

The most malicious god is the god of the counted chicken.

malicious chickens

The body is the outermost layer of the mind. by David Mitchell

The body is the outermost layer of the mind.

layers body mind