Words about words

...repetition in fiction is the necessary concomitant of having something worthwhile to say.
—John Irving

It’s an unfortunate thing, but it turns out that the perfect state of mind to edit your own novel is two years after it’s published...
—Zadie Smith

Talking of which

A Q&A about the Cohen book on the 1heckofaguy blog; and review of The Noughties at Feeling Listless.

Flying visit

Just touching down to remind you that the first programme of BBC2’s History of Now: the Story of the Noughties is on tonight at 9pm, with the remaining episodes on Thursday and Friday. I think I’m in at least some of them, although after the Channel 4 thing, I’ve become resigned to a permanent Kevin-Costner-in-The-Big-Chill status. In any case, Will Self’s on, so it’s definitely worth a gander.