Articles written by: Matt Haig

Booktrust

What being published has taught me


In last week’s blog I pretty much reduced everything that happened to me in my formative years to an 800 word blog.

This week is a kind of sequel. And one in which I talk about my other life, my life since 2003, the year I got a publishing deal, and everything I have learnt since. Okay, deep breath, look straight ahead, here goes.
– Choose battles wisely.
– Choose agents even more wisely.
– Literary fiction is a genre that pretends it is not a genre.
– Editors are essential.
– If an editor is talking about culling their list in the first meeting, this is a bad sign. (more…)

Blog / Booktrust

How writing saved my life

Apparently, more anti-depressants are prescribed in January than any other month. So I thought I’d write a little bit about words and mental health. In September 1999, in my early twenties, I suffered a breakdown.

After a few years of seriously heavy living, and various other life stresses, I became very ill indeed. I descended into a permanent state of dark anxiety and was diagnosed with panic disorder.

The only way I know how to describe panic disorder is as a kind of high speed depression. I would close my eyes and see literal demons. I could hardly leave the house without my girlfriend standing by my side. I was overwhelmed by something I did not understand – my own brain. For about three years my mind never came to a comma let alone a full stop. (more…)

Booktrust

Why you should write

I tell you what annoys me. What annoys me is when people imply I have an easy job. Doesn’t that annoy everyone? I don’t know. But I bet brain surgeons get annoyed at parties when people say to them ‘oh, you are so lucky, I’d love to do some minimally invasive endoscopic surgery if only I had the time.’

Or doesn’t that happen?

Anyway, this idea that writers have it easy annoys me for two reasons. First, writing is not stamp-collecting. It is not some nice little hobby you do to wile away the hours. Writing – proper writing – is hard. It is exhausting. It eats you as it feeds you. It is the greatest joy sometimes, but like all the greatest joys it is hard-won. It is no winning lottery ticket. (more…)

Blog / Book News / Events / The Humans

The Humans launch

Celebrate the launch of my new book ‘The Humans’

Free Word Centre, Farringdon, London, Tuesday, May 7, 2013 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

You are invited to join Booktrust in celebrating the release of my new novel The Humans.From Booktrust:May 2013 sees the release of The Humans, the new novel by Matt Haig, Booktrust’s online writer in residence. It is an excellent and touching novel about an alien on a (more…)
Booktrust

Writers and Twitter

The internet is the best thing that has ever happened for writers.

Not everyone agrees with this.

Some people wish writers would stay the hell off Twitter and stick to writing their books.

This week in particular there has been a lot of talk about the way authors use the internet. One successful writer has been branded a ‘monster’ for retweeting praise of his books.

Personally, I thought this was a bit harsh. But I would think that because I am also a ‘monster’. (more…)