Reread, rewrite, reread, rewrite. If it still doesn’t work, throw it away. Helen Dunmore More Quotes by Helen Dunmore More Quotes From Helen Dunmore A novel, in the end, is a container, a shape which you are trying to pour your story into. Helen Dunmore stories writing trying I can remember being in my pram: children stayed in their prams much longer then than they do now. A big bouncy pram with black covers and a hood with metal clips that could trap your fingers. I was looking up at my sister who was sitting on the pram seat, with her back to me. Helen Dunmore black sitting children However, the difficulties and pleasures of the writing itself are similar for a novel with a historical setting and a novel with a contemporary setting, as far as I'm concerned. Helen Dunmore pleasure historical writing However, I began to submit poems to British magazines, and some were accepted. It was a great moment to see my first poems published. It felt like entering a tradition. Helen Dunmore entering magazines firsts When you are young you don't always realise how full of doubts everybody is. Helen Dunmore realising doubt young Writing children's books gives a writer a very strong sense of narrative drive. Helen Dunmore strong book children Writing poetry makes you intensely conscious of how words sound, both aloud and inside the head of the reader. You learn the weight of words and how they sound to the ear. Helen Dunmore ears sound writing The poets whom I knew then were all men and all seemed dauntingly sure of themselves - although I am sure that really they were as uncertain as I was. Helen Dunmore poet uncertain men The language has got to be fully alive - I can't bear dull, flaccid writing myself and I don't see why any reader should put up with it. Helen Dunmore alive writing dull Poets go through a very tough apprenticeship in the use of words. Helen Dunmore tough poet use My first collection of poems was published by Bloodaxe Books, which was then a very new imprint. Helen Dunmore collections book firsts Mourning Ruby is not a flat landscape: it is more like a box with pictures painted on every face. And each face is also a door which opens, I hope, to take the reader deep into the book. Helen Dunmore mourning doors book I would like people to come into my Dreamworld and then choose to stay. Helen Dunmore people Those who try to obliterate the past are injuring the present. Helen Dunmore genocide trying past Once one habit peels away the others follow it. You have to hold on, or the next thing you'll find yourself parading down the street in your nightdress. Habit is everything. Helen Dunmore finding-yourself next discipline I could start with Mandelstam, who was a huge influence on my early writing. Helen Dunmore start who influence writing Fiction came quite a while later. I began with short stories and fiction for children. Helen Dunmore quite short children fiction Children will not pretend to be enjoying books, and they will not read books because they have been told that these books are good. They are looking for delight. Helen Dunmore looking will good children
