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Writers are socially observant. We find people endlessly fascinating, and real life is mysterious. Sometimes it's hard to stop staring at the strut and squawk of my fellow man. They can be quite inspiring. Sometimes it's hard to stop talking to them to see what in the world they're thinking.

Writers, at least writers of fiction, are always full of anxiety and worry.

I tend to write about my anxieties - it's what I'm afraid will happen. And I write a story working it out.

I think I'm attracted to writers who tell us something about ourselves.

Working with great writers can be humbling and frightening, but it can also change you for good, forever.

From an artist's point of view, I always want to work with the writers I admire.

I was always attracted and repelled by the idea of being a writer.

But a lot of writers - and I'm one of them - do tend to feel dissatisfied. It makes you a little hard to live with, but it's a goad and does keep you alert and restless.

If I think about the writers I love or might be influenced by, I can't write at all, so I pretend there aren't any.

I love doing interviews that are about work that I do, films that I make. I am not very interested in the rest. I think I have always been quite reserved and a bit frightened of that whole thing.