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When I'm working on a novel, I generally do write every day, but in between those marathons, I take breaks. My brain needs time to recharge.

Novels are so much unrulier and more stressful to write. A short story can last two pages and then it's over, and that's kind of a relief. I really like balancing the two.

It takes a long time to write a novel when you have to keep interrupting your work to earn money.

But at the same time, I have trouble keeping things out of books, which is why I don't write short stories because they turn into novels.

Don't force yourself to write. Some people can write a novel in a few months, whereas for others it can take over a year. I'm lucky to be one of the former - but, even so, if I'm not in the mood to write, I won't. I'll go off, do something else and come back to it when I'm ready.

There's no reason you should write any novel quickly.

Most novels, I find, are three times longer than they need to be. Very little happens, and I don't want to waste my time with them.

When I sit down I write very fast... if I haven't finished a book in two or three months then I think it's not going well.