Cherie, keep walking. Shut your eyes. We are headed for the bridge. We are going to cross it.

Writers and artists never pay attention to advice given by their elders, quite rightly. The only worthwhile advice is the most general: 'Keep trying, don't give up, don't be discouraged, don't pay attention to detractors.' Everyone knows this.

I don't feel I write fast. I write in longhand and do so much revision. On the page, it's so old-fashioned. I could write a whole novel on scrap paper, scribbles and things. I keep looking at it and something develops. For me, using a word processor would mean staring at a screen for too many hours.

Don't cross the bridge until you get to it

We'll cross that bridge when we come to it

All that matters in life is forging deep ties of love and family and friends. Writing and reading come later.