'At the heart of the writer's life'

'One of the attractions of being a writer is that you're never a specialist. Your field is entirely open; your field is the entire human condition...

There's no doubt that writing can on occasion be grim, lonely, miserable, desperate and wretched, and there were many years when I struggled materially. But I've also known wonderful times. Writing is a very emotional thing, especially when words come in a way that you know is right. At the heart of the writer's life there can be a great sweetness. And it's also a great adventure: your whole life, from book to book, is a constant adventure.'

Graham Swift in the Observer